HB 1343: Electronic Process in Competency & Administrative Hearings - Colorado

Final Act → Signed Act · 3 edits · Jun 4, 2026

MINOR

This bill updates the State Administrative Procedure Act to modernize how legal notices and decisions are delivered in administrative hearings. It clarifies that parties can receive documents via electronic means if they have documented consent, ensuring the process keeps pace with current technology while maintaining the option for traditional mail.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of allowable delivery methods for official notices and decisions from primarily physical mail to include electronic delivery upon consent.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the requirement for serving notices and decisions to explicitly include 'electronic means' as a valid method when the recipient has documented consent or a request.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the spelling of 'such' to 'sueh' in the text of the statute, likely a typo fix from the original draft.

Removed internal legislative notes and formatting markers used during the drafting process, leaving only the final enacted text.

Rerevised → Final Act · 3 edits · Jun 2, 2026

MINOR

This bill updates Colorado's State Administrative Procedure Act to allow administrative agencies to serve legal notices and decisions electronically, provided the recipient has requested or consented to electronic service. It also permits agencies to accept court orders for competency evaluations electronically. These changes modernize administrative procedures by reducing reliance on physical mail while maintaining the option for traditional service methods.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of electronic service from specific competency evaluations to all administrative proceedings under the State Administrative Procedure Act, including hearings, notices, and final decisions.

REQUIREMENT

Amended C.R.S. 24-4-105 to allow agencies to serve hearing notices and decisions via electronic means if the recipient has documented consent or a documented request.

Added provisions allowing agencies to accept court orders for competency evaluations and deliver those evaluations electronically through e-filing systems.

MODIFIED

Updated the effective date clause to clarify the timeline for the act's implementation relative to the general assembly's adjournment and potential referendum petitions.

Revised → Rerevised · 3 edits · May 4, 2026

MINOR

The bill was re-revised to incorporate additional amendments approved by the Senate. The primary changes involve updating the bill's title page to reflect the new revision status and adding a specific timestamp indicating the bill was passed in the Senate on May 4, 2026, without further amendments at that stage. A new senator, Coleman, was added to the list of sponsors, expanding the bipartisan or coalition support for the legislation.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability remains unchanged; the revisions are procedural updates to the legislative record and sponsor list.

TECHNICAL

Added a specific date and reading status ('3rd Reading Unamended, May 4, 2026') to the title page to track the bill's legislative progress.

Added 'Coleman' to the Senate Sponsorship list, indicating a new co-sponsor for the bill.

Updated the revision header text to reflect that this is a 'REREVISED' version including all amendments adopted in the Second House.

Reengrossed → Revised · 4 edits · May 1, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and its scope was significantly expanded to apply to all administrative hearings under the State Administrative Procedure Act, rather than just competency evaluations. It now explicitly allows agencies to serve notice and deliver decisions electronically upon a person's documented request or consent, and permits electronic acceptance of court orders by relevant departments.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from specific competency proceedings to all administrative adjudicatory hearings under the State Administrative Procedure Act.

SCOPE

The bill was renumbered from HB 1343 to HB 26-1343 and the statutory citation was changed from C.R.S. 16-8.5-105 to C.R.S. 24-4-105, reflecting a broader application to general administrative procedure rather than just criminal competency.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit authority for administrative agencies to serve notice of hearings and deliver decisions via electronic means if the recipient has documented requested or consented to such service.

Added authority for the department to accept court orders and deliver evaluations electronically when the recipient has consented to electronic communication.

Removed specific language regarding the return of defendants to county jails or community restoration plans, as these details were likely moved to a different section or are no longer the primary focus of this amendment.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 4 edits · Apr 22, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed to include additional House sponsors and updated the title to reflect amendments regarding electronic filing in competency proceedings. A significant substantive change was added to the timeline requirements, specifying that a defendant must be returned to county jail within seventy-two hours after their competency evaluation is completed.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include additional legislative sponsors and updated the formal title to include the 'State Administrative Procedure Act'.

ELIGIBILITY

Added five new sponsors to the House sponsorship list: Bacon, Bradley, Hamrick, Nguyen, and Rutinel.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the bill title to explicitly mention expanding the use of electronic filing related to the competency of criminal defendants.

Added a requirement for the department to electronically deliver the evaluation report to the court clerk, who must then provide copies to the prosecuting attorney, bridges court liaison, and defense counsel.

TIMELINE

Added a specific requirement that the county sheriff must take custody of the defendant within seventy-two hours after the department notifies them that the evaluation is complete.

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 21, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' to reflect amendments adopted during the second reading. Substantive changes include expanding the use of electronic filing in competency proceedings and adding a new appropriation line item. The text also includes formatting adjustments to align with the amended version of the bill.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include 'State Administrative Procedure Act' proceedings alongside criminal competency proceedings, and a new funding appropriation was added.

SCOPE

Expanded the application of electronic filing rules to include 'State Administrative Procedure Act' proceedings, not just criminal competency cases.

FISCAL

Added a new appropriation line item to fund the expanded electronic filing capabilities.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header and summary to reflect its status as an 'Engrossed' version with amendments adopted on April 21, 2026.

Included minor formatting and spacing adjustments to the statutory text to match the amended version.

Electronic Process in Competency & Administrative Hearings

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