Under current law, the independent ethics commission created in article XXIX of the state constitution does not have jurisdiction over officials or employees of special districts or school districts. The bill gives the independent ethics commission jurisdiction to hear complaints, issue findings, assess penalties, and issue advisory opinions on ethics issues concerning a special district official or employee or school district official or employee. However: "Officials" include only members of a school district or special district board; "School district employee" includes only the superintendent or head administrative officer designated by a school board to execute its policy decisions who is appointed or hired by, directly reports to, and is subject to the direction of the school district board; and "Special district employee" includes only an employee of a special district who is appointed or hired by, directly reports to, and is subject to the direction of the special district's board. Existing law establishes ethical standards for a special district official or employee or school district official or employee. The bill incorporates those standards under the independent ethics commission's jurisdiction and expands the standards to include those described in article XXIX of the state constitution. The bill appropriates $120,856 in general fund to the judicial department for use by the independent ethics commission for the 2025-26 state fiscal year. To implement the bill, the commission may use $96,917 for program costs and $23,939 for the purchase of legal services. The bill also appropriates $23,939 to the department of law for the 2025-26 state fiscal year. This appropriation is from reappropriated funds received from the bill's appropriation to the judicial department. To implement the bill, the department of law may use this appropriation to provide legal services for the independent ethics commission. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. Current law establishes the youthful offender system in the department of corrections as a sentencing option that provides a continuum of services. Section 1 of the bill: Revises certain legislative declaration provisions to emphasize lasting behavioral changes in preparation for reentry, accountability, healthy relationship building, and offender and staff safety; Adds language related to housing arrangements and equitable treatment for youthful offenders, including youthful offenders with disabilities; Adds a requirement for rehabilitative treatment and life skills programming and, in certain cases, for individual and family therapy and substance use disorder treatment; Elaborates on clinician evaluations, tailored treatment plans, and client manager requirements for youthful offenders; and Imposes an annual reporting requirement beginning in January 2026. Section 2 of the bill applies the standards for determining competency in juvenile delinquency cases to juveniles who have charges directly filed against them in adult court, juveniles whose cases are transferred to adult court, or juveniles subject to concurrent court jurisdiction. Section 3 of the bill permits bridges court liaisons to access juvenile competency evaluations and related information. Current law sets forth procedures for court determinations of a juvenile's competency in juvenile justice proceedings. Section 4 of the bill requires a court to dismiss the case against a juvenile if the court makes a final determination that the juvenile is incompetent to proceed and the juvenile's highest charged act is a class 2 misdemeanor, a petty offense, a drug misdemeanor, or a traffic offense. Under current law, one year after a court finds a juvenile charged with a level 4 drug felony is incompetent to proceed the court shall enter a finding the juvenile is unrestorable to competency and shall determine whether a management plan is necessary for the juvenile. The bill reduces the time from one year to 6 months. The bill imposes certain limitations on a case management plan's contents in cases that involve sexual conduct and addresses court responses when a juvenile or a juvenile's parent or guardian fails to engage with a management plan's ordered services. Section 5 of the bill requires that a person sentenced for a delinquent act committed as a juvenile receive credit for any period of confinement prior to sentencing. Section 6 of the bill creates the deflection and community investment grant program (grant program) in the office of adult and juvenile justice assistance in the division of criminal justice to provide grants to eligible nonprofit and tribal applicants to implement a mixed-delivery system of trauma-informed health and development deflection programs for youth, including Native American youth.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the data center development and grid modernization program (program) in the Colorado office of economic development (office). To facilitate efficient data center development and g rid modernization, the program allows tax and utility benefits to a data center operator that applies to the office to have a data center project certified at one of 2 levels and that satisfies certain eligibility criteria for certification. The first level of data center project certification created in the bill is base certification. In connection with base certification, the bill specifies that: To obtain base certification, a data center operator must commit, through the application process with the office, to making a $250 million minimum capital investment in data center facility construction and equipment within 5 years, creating 25 full-time jobs that satisfy specified criteria, and breaking ground on the data center project within 5 years of obtaining base certification; In addition to the investment and job creation requirements, to obtain base certification a data center operator must also commit to implementing basic grid support capabilities, obtaining certification under one of several energy efficiency standards, implementing water stewardship strategies that optimize operational water management, sourcing at least 50% of the data center project's energy consumption from renewable and clean sources, supporting clean integration by implementing energy storage solutions that align with the data center project's needs and operations, agreeing to certain post-certification requirements, and agreeing to submit annual compliance reports to the office; A data center operator must apply to the office, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for base certification before taking action to satisfy any of the eligibility criteria; The office is required to review a data center operator's application for base certification and award base certification to data center operators that have demonstrated that they will satisfy the base certification criteria; A data center operator that obtains base certification for a data center project is eligible for a 100% sales and use tax exemption on the purchase, use, and storage of information technology infrastructure, data center infrastructure, and electrical grid enhancement equipment (qualified purchases) for 20 years from the date that the data center project was certified, so long as the data center project satisfies ongoing compliance requirements; and In addition to the sales and use tax credit, a data center operator that obtains base certification for a data center project is eligible for standard utility rate incentives as negotiated between the data center operator and the utility. The second level of data center certification created in the bill is enhancement certification. A data center operator that has obtained base certification for a data center project may apply for enhancement certification for the same data center. In connection with enhancement certification, the bill specifies that: To obtain enhancement certification, a data center operator must invest a minimum of $10 million in grid enhancement and modernization, invest in workforce development or other community benefit programs, agree to certain post-certification requirements, and agree to submit annual compliance reports to the office; A data center operator must apply to the office, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for enhancement certification either before or after making the required minimum grid enhancement and modernization investment; The office is required to review a data center operator's application for enhancement certification and award enhancement certification to data center operators that have demonstrated that they will satisfy the enhancement certification criteria; For income tax years commencing on or after 2026, a data center operator that obtains enhancement certification for a data center project is eligible for an income tax credit in an amount equal to 10% of the amount of any grid enhancement and modernization investment made by the data center operator and an additional amount equal to 5% of the amount of such investment if the investment is made in a rural area (grid enhancement credit); A data center operator is not eligible to claim the grid enhancement credit until the data center operator has made the required minimum grid enhancement and modernization investment; and In addition to the grid enhancement credit, a data center operator that obtains enhancement certification for a data center project is eligible for enhanced utility benefits as negotiated between the data center operator and the utility. Before submitting an application for certification for a data center project, a data center operator is required to conduct and document a preliminary consultation with the utility that will provide electricity for the data center project regarding interconnection feasibility, capacity, and infrastructure requirements and obtain a written feasibility assessment from the utility. A data center operator is required to include the documentation of the consultation and the written feasibility assessment with an application to the office for certification of the data center project, and, if the data center project includes projects requiring review by the public utilities commission (commission), the commission is required to review specified aspects of the application. A certified data center project that necessitates a new customer load or co-located customer load that satisfies certain criteria (emerging new load) is eligible for targeted resource acquisition if the data center operator satisfies specified requirements. The bill specifies a process by which a utility regulated by the commission may submit a resource acquisition application to the commission to meet emerging new load needs. The bill also specifies how a utility may finance resources and infrastructure needs in connection with emerging new loads. After achieving base certification and enhancement certification, a data center operator may apply to the office for certain benefit extensions for the sales and use tax exemption allowed to data center operators that have obtained base certification, for the grid enhancement credit allowed to data center operators that have obtained enhancement certification, and for the utility benefits negotiated between the data center operator and the utility. If the office determines that a data center operator is not fulfilling its obligations and commitments to retain base certification or enhancement certification, the office is required to revoke the certification and the data center operator is required to repay the state for the tax benefits that it received. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill tasks the statewide health care review interim committee with studying health-care billing practices across the state during the 2025 interim to: Deduce whether patients across the state are receiving timely billing for health-care services, and if not, determine why; and Consider potential legislative changes to ensure that patients across the state are guaranteed timely billing for health-care services. The committee may meet up to 4 times during the 2025 interim to complete this study and must, within 90 days after their final meeting during the 2025 interim , submit to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health matters a report that contains: A brief recap of the committee's meetings; The committee's findings; and Recommendations, if any, regarding legislative measures that may be taken to improve health-care billing practices to ensure that patients receive timely billing for health-care services. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates the fostering success pilot program (pilot program) in the department of human services (department). The pilot program is a 2-part program, which includes: The supplemental support for foster students program (supplemental support program), which awards $2,000 scholarships annually to a foster care provider, kinship foster care provider, or a non-certified kinship care provider (provider) who cares for a youth in the legal custody of a county department of human or social services until the youth graduates from high school; and The milestone incentives program (milestone program), which awards $1,000 to a youth for successfully graduating from high school. On or before September 30, 2025, subject to available appropriations, the department shall contract with a third-party administrator (administrator) to develop, implement, and administer the pilot program. The department shall contract with an administrator that is: A nonprofit organization; Experienced working with students and families; and Experienced administering student scholarship and grant programs. On or before December 31, 2025, subject to available appropriations, the department shall establish a timeline for: Announcing the pilot program; Accepting applications from youth and their providers; and Selecting youth and their providers to participate in the pilot program. The department shall select youth and provider participants in the order of applications received. A youth and their provider selected to participate in the pilot program must participate in the supplemental support program and the milestone program. The administrator may contract with one or more private entities to develop and implement a system to establish scholarship accounts that allows payment to qualifying vendors by electronic means from an online portal. The administrator shall: Ensure that the scholarship account is accessible through an online portal for the provider to facilitate payments to a qualifying vendor for the supplemental support program; Ensure the transfer of scholarship funds from the online portal directly to a qualifying vendor without direct access to scholarship funds by a provider; and Distribute money to each scholarship account. The administrator shall ensure that a youth has sole access to the milestone program award funds. There are no restrictions on how the youth may use the milestone program award funds. On or before July 1, 2028, the administrator shall administer a survey to youth and their providers to receive feedback on the pilot program. On or before October 31, 2028, the administrator shall report to the department the following information: The number of participants selected for the pilot program; The amount of money awarded through the pilot program; The survey results from youth and their providers; and How the pilot program affected the youth's performance in school. On or before December 31, 2028, the department shall submit a report summarizing the information collected from the survey to the education committees of the house of representatives and senate, the health and human services committees of the house of representatives and senate, or their successor committees. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy. Section 2 of the bill extends a refundable income tax credit (credit) that is available for the income tax years commencing on January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024, so that the credit is also available for the income tax years commencing on January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. For each income tax year, the credit is for a qualifying senior, which means a resident individual who: Is 65 years of age or older at the end of the income tax year; Has federal adjusted gross income (AGI) that is less than or equal to $75,000 if filing a single return, or less than or equal to $125,000 if filing a joint return; and Has not claimed the senior property tax exemption for the property tax year that coincides with the income tax year. The amount of the credit for both the 2025 and 2026 income tax years is: $800 for a qualifying senior filing a single return with federal AGI that is $25,000 or less. For every $500 of federal AGI above $25,000, the amount of the credit is reduced by $8. $800 for 2 taxpayers filing a joint return with federal AGI that is $25,000 or less. For every $500 of federal AGI above $25,000, the amount of the credit is reduced by $4. $400 for each taxpayer, in the case of 2 taxpayers who share the same primary residence, and may legally file a joint return but actually file separate returns and both claim the credit. For every $500 of federal AGI above $25,000, the amount of the credit is reduced by $4. Notwithstanding the income-based reductions in the allowable credit amount, a taxpayer who also qualifies for a property tax and rent assistance grant or heat assistance grant during the calendar year 2025 or 2026 is eligible to receive the full amount of the credit. Section 1 requires the property tax administrator to provide reports from counties related to taxpayers who are eligible for and actually claim the homestead property tax exemption.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill enacts the "Swipe Fee Fairness and Consumer Safeguards Act" (act), which prohibits a payment card network from: Fixing or conspiring to fix an interchange fee with, or on behalf of, a covered credit card issuer or another payment card network; Establishing, putting forward, or implementing a fee schedule that the payment card network knows, or reasonably should know, has been used by a covered credit card issuer other than the payment card network to determine the amount of an interchange fee charged or received by the covered credit card issuer in the current or previous calendar year; Establishing, charging, or putting forward on a fee schedule an interchange fee if the fee includes a percentage multiplied by the amount of a transaction and the fee does not exclude any amount attributable to a tax or gratuity on the transaction, or increasing fees in an attempt to or in a manner that would circumvent such interchange fee prohibition; Requiring a merchant that accepts credit cards that are enabled for processing over the payment card network to accept all credit cards issued by a covered credit card issuer that are enabled for processing over the payment card network; Distributing, publishing, or otherwise using data from an electronic payment transaction, except in certain circumstances; Charging a fee to a consumer or merchant related to a disputed credit card transaction until the dispute has been resolved and the consumer or merchant has been provided written notice of the determination; or Imposing a penalty on a merchant for setting prices in a manner that complies with state and federal law. The bill prohibits a payment card network from establishing, putting forward, or implementing a fee schedule that the payment card network knows or reasonably should know has been used by one or more issuers other than the payment card network to determine the amount of an interchange fee received or charged in respect to a charitable contribution, unless the interchange fee does not exceed: 0.2% of the amount of a charitable contribution made by means of a debit card; or 0.3% of the amount of a charitable contribution made by means of a credit card. If a payment card network violates the act, a merchant, consumer, or other individual or entity that is injured as a result may bring a civil action. A payment card network that is found to have violated the act as a result of a civil action other than a certified class action is liable in an amount equal to the sum of: The greater of: The amount of actual damages sustained plus interest; or $500; or 3 times the amount of actual damages sustained if the payment card network engaged in bad faith conduct; plus The costs of the action plus reasonable attorney fees. If a payment card network is found liable in a certified class action, a successful plaintiff may recover actual damages, injunctive relief allowed by law, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill modifies certain laws related to the practice of veterinary telehealth. Under current law, in order to practice veterinary telehealth in Colorado, a licensed veterinarian must establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) through an in-person, physical examination of the animal (patient) or by a medically appropriate and timely visit to the premises where the animal is kept. The bill allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR through telehealth. An in-person, physical examination of the patient or visit to the premises is not necessary, and the veterinarian may establish the VCPR through an electronic examination using synchronous audio-video based communication technology. The bill clarifies the definition of "telehealth" and changes references throughout current law from "telemedicine" to "telehealth". Under current law, a licensed veterinarian is prohibited from prescribing drugs to a patient through telehealth unless the veterinarian has conducted an in-person, physical examination of the patient. The bill removes that requirement and permits a veterinarian to prescribe drugs to a patient through telehealth as long as the veterinarian has established a VCPR and follows certain requirements. However, the bill still requires an in-person, physical examination of the patient in order to prescribe the patient a controlled substance or an antimicrobial for longer than 14 days. The bill removes the requirement under current law that a veterinarian who uses telehealth be available in person at a veterinary premises that is accessible to the client and patient for follow-up evaluations. The bill also repeals a provision in current law that prohibits a veterinary specialist to whom a patient has been referred from prescribing medication to the patient unless that veterinary specialist has established a VCPR through an in-person, physical examination of the patient. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill adjusts the percentages used to calculate the valuations for assessment for residential property that is accessible housing property. For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the bill reduces the percentages by 1/60 of 1%, up to a maximum of 1%, for each point by which an accessible housing property exceeds the number of accessibility points required by state accessible housing standards. For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the bill reduces the percentages for accessible housing properties that achieve at least the specified number of accessibility points required by state accessible housing standards by a range of percentages, not to exceed 1%. The percentages decrease according to the type of accessible units that are contained within the accessible housing property in the following order with the largest decreases being listed first: Type A dwelling units, Type A multistory dwelling units, Type B dwelling units, Type B multistory dwelling units, and Type B visitable ground floor units.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Under current law, the independent ethics commission created in article XXIX of the state constitution does not have jurisdiction over officials or employees of special districts or school districts. The bill gives the independent ethics commission jurisdiction to hear complaints, issue findings, assess penalties, and issue advisory opinions on ethics issues concerning a special district official or employee or school district official or employee. Existing law establishes ethical standards for a special district official or employee or school district official or employee. The bill incorporates those standards under the independent ethics commission's jurisdiction and expands the standards to include those described in article XXIX of the state constitution.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
This bill establishes a system for courts in Colorado to officially store and preserve wills that individuals voluntarily submit for safekeeping. It requires court clerks to keep these documents for a specific period, creating a permanent electronic record if the original is destroyed after the retention time expires. The law also updates probate procedures to recognize these court-stored electronic records as valid proof of a will, ensuring they can be used to settle estates without needing the original physical document.
The bill requires the division of labor standards and statistics in the department of labor and employment to create and make available to employers suicide prevention education posters and notices. Starting July 1, 2025, employers are required to display the suicide prevention education posters in their workplaces and certain employers are required to include the suicide prevention education notices in documents provided to employees. The office of suicide prevention within the department of public health and environment must create a website to provide information about workplace suicide prevention. The bill requires the suicide prevention education posters to include a quick response (QR) code and a website link to connect to the website.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
