Veterans

The act repeals the 10-day limit on the number of sick days that an employee in the state personnel system can earn in a fiscal year. In addition, the act increases the number of weeks of military leave allowed to an officer or employee of the state or of any political subdivision, municipal corporation, or other public agency of the state from 3 weeks to 4 weeks per leave year established by the employer.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

In current law, a person who is a member of the Colorado National Guard who is accepted for enrollment at a designated institution of higher education (member) has all their tuition costs waived. All tuition waiver costs are currently funded by the state from money in the Colorado National Guard tuition fund.     The act changes the funding mechanism of the Colorado National Guard tuition waiver program by requiring each designated institution of higher education to waive the remaining balance of a member's tuition cost in excess of the amount of any private, state, or federal financial assistance received. The act requires the department of military and veterans affairs to reimburse each institution for 50% of the cost of tuition waived by the institution and requires the general assembly to appropriate money to the Colorado National Guard tuition fund to cover the reimbursement.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Under current law, the department of personnel and a statutorily created preservation trust committee oversee the Colorado veterans' monument preservation trust fund (trust fund). The act moves oversight of the trust fund to the state historical society (history Colorado) and repeals the preservation trust committee. The act also expands the allowable uses of the trust fund, which were previously restricted to maintaining and enhancing the Colorado veterans' monument and any fallen heroes memorials in Lincoln veterans' memorial park, to include the maintenance, enhancement, and repair of monuments and memorials both in Lincoln veterans' memorial park and on the state capitol building grounds. History Colorado may expend principal from the trust fund for these purposes once every 20 years beginning in state fiscal year 2027-28, subject to appropriation by the general assembly, and for unexpected necessary maintenance costs that are not covered by insurance. On or before December 31, 2026, and on or before each December 31 thereafter, history Colorado must submit a report to the state capitol building advisory committee (CBAC) that includes information on:History Colorado's plans to maintain, enhance, and repair monuments and memorials in Lincoln veterans' memorial park and on the state capitol building grounds; andThe actual and planned use of money in the trust fund.     The act also requires the CBAC, before recommending a proposal for the placement of a memorial or an object of art on the state capitol building grounds to the capital development committee and the governor for approval, to ensure that the proposal includes funding sufficient to provide lifetime maintenance of the proposed memorial or object of art. Only a proposal that dedicates at least 5% of its total budget to maintenance includes funding sufficient to provide lifetime maintenance of the proposed object of art or memorial.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The 2025 general appropriations act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of military and veterans affairs. The general fund and cash funds portions of the appropriation are increased and the federal funds portion is decreased.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

SJR 11 is a commemorative resolution designating a specific segment of U.S. Highway 34 (between Wilson Ave. and North County Rd. 23H) as the "Sgt. John 'Jack' Thurman Memorial Highway" in honor of a World War II Marine Corps veteran. The bill, which has no policy or funding provisions, simply names the highway section to recognize Sergeant Thurman's service at Iwo Jima, his military awards, and his post-war contributions as an architect and community leader in Colorado. It authorizes the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations for signage and explore maintenance agreements with local governments. This is a ceremonial designation with no direct impact on residents or new laws.