State Legislation

This bill modifies the electronic Sales and Use Tax Simplification System (SUTS) to streamline various administrative processes and educate retailers and local taxing jurisdictions.

This bill specifies the state statute of limitations for minimum wage violations as two years for non-willful violations and three years for willful violations.

This bill requires wholesale electricity services in the state to file a report on the adequacy of its electric resources with the regulatory oversight entity responsible for approving resource plans or rates. The regulatory oversight entity must then submit annually any resource adequacy reports to the Colorado Energy Office. The Colorado Energy Office will then aggregate the resource adequacy reports into a statewide resource adequacy report.

This bill: prohibits insurance companies from denying homeowners insurance based on dog breed, while allowing denial if the breed is a dangerous dog; forbidding insurers from asking about what dog breeds live at a residence, except to ask if the dog has been deemed a dangerous dog; requires an officer executing a writ of restitution to inspect for pets and give any pets to the tenant, and if the tenant is not present, the officer must contact the local animal shelter to take custody of the pet; forbids a landlord from taking a security deposit for pets living in their property; creates the pet friendly landlord damage mitigation program administered by the department of local affairs, which would reimburse landlords up to $1,000 for any damage caused by pets—any landlord who receives reimbursement cannot take legal action against the tenant; and prohibits the existing affordable housing tax credit from being allocated unless tenants are allowed to keep pets at a qualified development. 

This bill creates a dependence allowance for an individual receiving unemployment compensation for each of the individual’s dependents. The allowance starts at $35 per week and increases annually for inflation. This bill also requires the division of unemployment insurance to report to the General Assembly regarding the dependence allowance annually starting Aug. 31, 2025 and by Aug. 31 each year after. 

For any residential special district, the district is prohibited from approving a purchase of debt from any entity with which the director has a conflict of interest. The bill further prohibits any board member from acquiring any interest in the debt.

Currently, a taxpayer who makes a monetary contribution to promote childcare is allowed a tax credit up to 50% of the contribution. This bill extends the tax credit for three years and expands the tax credit to include in-kind donations of real property if such property is rented below market rate to promote childcare. This bill also includes a statutory legislative declaration and requires the state auditor to prepare a tax expenditure evaluation report.

This bill prohibits state money from being used to further certain social, political or ideological interests beyond what controlling state and federal law require. The bill limits the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) to make investments solely on financial factors; prohibits them from investing in certain social, political or ideological interests; and requires a government contract to verify that a company entering into a government contract does not engage in an economic boycott of another company to further their social, political or ideological interests. 

This bill amends current law to prohibit a rental agreement from including: an unreasonable liquidated damage clause stemming from an eviction notice; a one-way, fee-shifting clause that awards court costs and attorneys’ fees to only one party; and the clause must award attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party. The bill also prohibits a waiver of the right to jury trial or to join a class action lawsuit or the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment; a provision allowing a landlord to levy a fee if tenant does not provide notice of renewal prior to the end of the rental agreement; and a provision that requires a tenant to pay a fee in excess of the amount a landlord paid for a service.

This bill increases the flexibility of the ozone season transit grant program by: allowing transit agencies in areas where ozone is highest at a different time than between June 1 to Aug. 31 to designate such time as its “ozone season”; to use grant money to advertise free ridership; to use grant money to increase free routes or increase their frequency; and allowing the regional transit district (RTD) to use grant money to cover the full costs, not just 80%, of free ridership fares. The bill also requires the governing body of each transportation district to include one voting member of a transit agency that offers transit service per region.

This bill creates the Homeowners' Association (HOA) Task Force and the Metro District Task Force. The HOA Task Force is required to: study issues regarding homeowners’ rights, including HOA fining and authority, foreclosure practices, and communications with homeowners; prepare an interim report regarding its findings; and prepare a final report on or before Dec. 31, 2023. The Metro District Task Force is required to: study issues confronting metropolitan districts homeowners’ rights, tax levying authority and practices, and foreclosure practices; and prepare a report regarding its findings on or before March 1, 2024.

This bill repeals a statute that prohibits counties and municipalities from enacting rent control on residential property.

This bill changes scheduling practices for nonexempt employees who are employed by a business with at least 250 employees globally in food, beverage or retail, or employers that provide those industries with janitorial, security or integral labor. It requires a 14-day advance notice of any new work schedule; bars employers from hiring additional staff until existing employees are scheduled for their desired number of weekly work hours, up to 40 hours a week or 12 hours a day, by penalty of six months of required retention pay to the existing employee; and entitles certain employees to predictability pay, rest shortfall pay and minimum weekly pay.

This bill requires a landlord and tenant to participate in mandatory mediation before eviction if the tenant receives supplementary security income, federal disability insurance, or cash assistance through the Colorado works program. The landlord and tenant do not have to participate in mediation if the tenant did not disclose they receive rent assistance. The bill also prohibits law enforcement from executing a writ of restitution for at least 30 days if the tenant receives cash assistance and requires a rental agreement to include a statement informing the tenant of the right to mediation.

This bill requires the state department of human services to conduct a feasibility study to determine if creating a system to support people with serious mental illness through a collaboration between Colorado’s behavioral health and judicial systems is feasible. The bill also requires the state to create an application process for selecting the independent third party, and to submit a report detailing the findings and recommendations by Dec. 31, 2023.

Current law permits a bill to have a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report. This bill requires the director of research of the Legislative Council to prepare a preliminary report that requires an analysis on whether an initiative has a net change in GHG emissions that directly impacts several sectors for ballot issues. The bill requires the ballot title of a measure that has a net increase in GHG to begin, “Shall there be an increase in greenhouse gas emissions…” and if there is a decrease, to start with “Shall there be a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions…”

This bill creates the “Colorado Consumer Legal Funding Act." A consumer legal funding transaction occurs when a company purchases an interest in an individual’s associated legal claim. This bill provides the requirements for a consumer legal funding contract, which is satisfied when a consumer’s associated legal claim has been resolved or settled. The consumer must pay the company a predetermined amount and the amount cannot be a percentage of the settlement. The consumer is not required to repay the company if the consumer does not prevail.

This bill prevents a police officer from arresting a person based solely on an alleged petty offense except petty theft, petty drug offense, class 2 misdemeanor and all municipal offenses for which there is no comparable state misdemeanor. This bill does not limit a peace officer’s authority to arrest a person for an alleged offense: for which custodial arrest is required by statute; that is a victim rights act crime; for driving under the influence; for a traffic offense involving death or bodily injury; or for operating a vehicle after circumventing an interlock device. It also does not limit a peace officer’s authority to execute a search warrant.

This bill prohibits a landlord from evicting a tenant unless there is just cause for an eviction. Just cause exists when: the tenant fails to pay rent after landlord provides timely written notice of nonpayment; the tenant commits a substantial violation and does not cure it within 10 days of written notice from the landlord; conditions exist for a no-fault eviction; the tenant refuses to allow the landlord access to the property after the landlord has provided written notice at least 48 hours before attempting entry; and tenant refuses to sign a new rental agreement with terms that are substantially identical to the current rental agreement. The following are terms for a no-fault eviction: demolition or conversion of the property; substantial repairs or renovations to the property; and the landlord assuming occupancy of the property. A landlord that proceeds with a no-fault eviction must provide two months’ rent to the tenant. The landlord must also provide an additional one month’s rent if there is an individual under 18 or over 60 living in the residence, a low-income individual lives in the residence, or an individual with a disability lives in the residence.

This bill requires annual reporting from the Commissioner of Insurance on the cost of rebuilding homes in the event of a total loss, such as a wildfire, and uses that estimated value to measure against the cost and value of private insurance coverage. Further, it would require insurers to offer “guaranteed replacement cost coverage,” which would require the insurer to pay the full cost to repair or replace property, regardless of if it exceeds the policy’s limits, and offer other forms of cost coverage should the applicant refuse the guaranteed replacement. It also increases advanced notice requirements, requires adjustments to the value of coverage relative to inflation, and establishes factors for determining replacement costs.

This bill creates an employer tax credit for employers who make a monetary contribution to their employees for assistance in purchasing a home. The amount of the credit is 5% of an employer’s contribution to an employee, but the credit is capped at $5,000 per employee. The employee must use the fund for a down payment, closing costs or fees. An employee may authorize the employer to withhold earnings as a contribution to the fund. If an employee terminates their employment, they forfeit any unexpended amount of the employer contribution, and the credit is subject to recapture. In this case, the employee is entitled to the employee contribution plus any interest earned.

This bill allows local governments to match an acceptable purchase offer on residential real property within its boundaries if the property is used for long-term affordable housing. The local government may assign its first right of refusal to the state or its local housing authority. This bill also requires notices be given by the seller to local governments, and the local government has 14 days to preserve its right of first refusal, 90 days to make an offer, and must close within 180 days. If the local government preserves the property as permanently affordable housing for 50 years, the use may be changed given the following criteria is met: notice is given to residents, residents are compensated for relocation, and the local government guarantees an equal or greater number of affordable housing units will be built in its place, and it offers these units to previous residents who have been displaced.

This bill makes changes to the Colorado Consumer Protection Act and replaces the Colorado State Antitrust Acts of 1992 with the Colorado State Antitrust Act of 2023. Changes to the Colorado Consumer Protection Act include an altered standard for reckless action and qualifying deceptive trade practices as having a significant impact on the public. The updated Colorado Antitrust Act broadens future discovery, establishes that aiding and abetting antitrust violations constitutes an antitrust violation, and increases the maximum civil penalty award. It also seeks to harmonize Colorado’s antitrust statute with statutes nationally by authorizing the Attorney General to prevent and restrain unfair methods of competition, which is a lower standard for action than in current statute.

This bill establishes a teacher externship program through the Department of Labor and Employment. The program, for public K-12 teachers, would allow teachers to participate in experiential learning opportunities with employers to gain knowledge and experience in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines (STEM). A teacher participating in the program can receive compensation from the district or the employer, or may apply for professional development credit as part of the program.

This bill requires the amount of a prescription charged by the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) or carrier be equal to or less than the amount paid by the PBM or carrier to the contracted pharmacy. This bill also creates transparency requirements for PBMs and carriers regarding prescription drug benefits and grants the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing the authority to audit.

This bill requires the Colorado School of Public Health to study legislation creating a publicly-funded and privately-delivered universal health care model. This bill also creates the statewide health care analysis task force consisting of appointed members and the Governor, as well as executive directors of state departments, the commissioner of insurance, and the CEO of the Colorado health benefit exchange.

This bill prohibits healthcare providers affiliated with a hospital from charging a facility fee for: outpatient services provided at an off-campus location or through telehealth or services identified by the medical services board that must be provided safely, reliably, and effectively in nonhospital settings. The bill also requires the provider to give notice of the fee to patients, prepare an annual report on facility fees, and makes it a deceptive trade practice to charge, bill or collect a facility fee when prohibited.

This bill makes changes to the “Colorado Standardized Health Benefit Plan Act” to: require the health benefit exchange to develop a format for displaying standardized health benefit plans on its website; grant the commissioner 120 days to analyze the rate filings as opposed to the current 60 days; require a carrier to submit a plan to the commissioner on how it will meet rate requirements if it does not offer a standardized plan; and specify that the commissioner’s decisions are final agency actions subject to judicial review.

This bill modifies certain functions of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Some of these changes include: specifying that only board members, and not employees, are required to recuse themselves during a vote if they have a conflict of interest; allowing the board chair to cancel a meeting if there is good cause; making certain changes to the procedure by which the board identifies prescription drugs that may be subjected to an affordability review; removing the prohibition of the board to set an upper limit on prescription drug prices; and establishing that it is an “adverse determination” if a patient is denied a prescription drug benefit because the manufacturer has withdrawn that drug from sale in the state.

This bill clarifies that money transferred from the general fund or the affordable housing and home ownership cash fund to the Colorado heritage communities fund on June 27, 2021 must be expended before July 1, 2025. It further clarifies that the division of housing may award multiple grants in the Metro Denver area to prevent homelessness.

This bill directs the state board of community colleges and occupational education to administer the in-demand short-term credentials program. It appropriates $38.6 million from the general fund for the program. It requires the board to allocate funds to community and technical colleges, area technical colleges, local district colleges and Colorado Mesa University to provide assistance to students for eligible expenses supporting their enrollment in the program. Any unexpended funds must be used for a student’s housing, transportation or food expenses. The bill further requires the office of future work to provide grants to building and construction trades at no cost to apprentices, totaling $1.4 million from the general fund. The bill also appropriates $5 million from the general fund to create two new short-term degree nursing programs at community or technical colleges.

This bill authorizes the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council to create ad hoc investigatory committees and grants the committee subpoena power, power to take testimony under oath and to subpoena records and documents. The bill requires services of a subpoena to be made by a Sheriff or Sheriff’s Deputy, or any person over 18 with no interest in the case. The bill also permits the subpoenaed person to seek relief by providing a statement indicating how their testimony may be illegal, unduly oppressive or burdensome.

This bill preempts any existing local growth restriction and prohibits local governments from enacting or enforcing one unless the local government has experienced a natural disaster emergency.

This bill creates new and modifies current state tax incentives to maximize federal funding for taxpayers engaged in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. It creates a refund mechanism allowing a taxpayer to apply for conditional approval of a tax credit based on a specified project in the state and sets the maximum amount of credit at 80%. The tax credit types that are the basis for refunds are: three enterprise zone credits for qualified investments, business facility employees, and experiential activity research; the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit; and three CHIPS zone credits for qualified investments. This bill also creates a temporary task force within the Office of Economic Development consisting of state legislators, representatives of the office, and citizens with industry experience to study the effectiveness of financial incentives intended to attract and promote the development of advanced manufacturing. This bill also creates the CHIPS zone tax credit, in which a local government may designate an area as a CHIPS zone to incentivize businesses to move there.

This bill enacts many provisions involving taxes related to decarbonization. It extends the innovative motor vehicles income tax credit for the purchase or lease of plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles and extends the credit through 2028. The credit cannot be claimed for vehicles that cost more than $80,000 for pickup trucks or $55,000 for automobiles. This bill also creates a tax refund for an industrial property owner who does an industrial study or installs greenhouse gas emission reduction improvements, up to 30% of the costs paid up to $1,000,000. Further, the bill creates a tax refund for geothermal energy projects for the purpose of energy production, as well as tax credits for the deployment of heat pump technology. This bill creates a new heat pump tax credit, a tax credit for electric bicycles up to $800, and also creates a tax credit for an aviation business to construct a sustainable aviation fuel facility.

For S corporations and partnerships, this bill consolidates the composite return and withholding options for nonresident owners and clarifies the calculation. It also adopts the multistate tax commission’s model statute for reporting taxable income adjustments, and provides additional time to report adjustments to allow S corporations more time to handle them on behalf of owners. This bill also changes the due date for C corporations’ income tax returns to May 15 to conform with federal standards.

This bill removes the requirement that the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) make rules setting conditions and limitations for start-up, shutdown or malfunction of air pollution that justify temporary relief from an emission control regulation. Currently, a person cannot permit air pollution emission at a nonresidential structure unless a notice has been filed with the Division of Administration in the Department of Public Health and Environment. This law adds more requirements, including that permits being approved by the division and the applicable period of review by the federal environmental protection has been completed. The law also removes the prohibition against the AQCC adopting stricter rules than federal law and adds new regulations to oil and gas construction permits to aggregate emission from a proposed or modified oil and gas system and consider emissions from exploration and preproduction activities. The bill also modifies the complaint process for noncompliance, adds requirements for the division to investigate, and creates new control measures that must be included in any state implementation plan for ozone adopted by the AQCC until a serious, severe, or extreme ozone nonattainment area is re-designated.

This bill modifies the accessible housing standards exception process for building plans submitted after July 1, 2023. When approving plans, a government may only grant an exception to the accessible housing standards when it is determined that the standards are technically infeasible or would create an undue hardship. The bill also requires that alteration of walls must also conform with certain minimum alteration requirements. This bill states that failure to comply with these minimum requirements constitutes discrimination and creates a civil action. This bill also requires a certain number of type B dwellings and in some cases at least one type A unit. The bill also requires newly constructed housing to have at least one building entrance on an accessible route, accessible fire alarms, accessible emergency exits, accessible mailboxes, and accessible signage.

This bill modifies the voter-approved Proposition 123 in a number of ways. It allows tribal governments to participate; requires the Division of Local Government to administer the land planning capacity development program; allows the office to use a portion of the money from the fund for administrative expenses; allows for a certain recalculation of the area median income for affordable units; ensures that affordable units are included in the 3% growth obligation; and requires the Division of Housing to publish three annual reports.

Based on the findings of the Film Incentive Task Force, this bill codifies into statute the following: restructuring of the film incentive program from a cash rebate to a refundable income tax credit during fiscal years for which there are at least $50 million of excess state revenues; specifying the credit cannot be used for income tax years beginning in any other calendar year unless the General Assembly specifies a maximum aggregate amount of such credits; and requiring the Office of Economic Development and the Office of Film, Television, and Media to jointly review the effectiveness of the credit and issue a report to the House of Representatives in 2028.

This bill authorizes the public-private collaboration unit in the Department of Personnel to perform additional functions to provide housing. These include: accepting gifts, grants and donations to be credited to the state-owned real property fund if unused; utilizing proceeds from real estate transactions and revenue from public-private agreements; acting as an agent on behalf of the department in real estate transactions deeded to the department; and creating a process for using requests for information to solicit projects.

The bill commits Colorado to a net-zero target by revising its 2050 goal to 100% emissions reductions and sets additional interim targets at five-year intervals. This bill includes measures that establish a state income tax credit in an amount equal to 30% of the purchase price for new, electric-powered lawn equipment and construction of new transmission lines for a cleaner electric grid by requiring local governments to expedite reviews of transmission projects.

This bill clarifies that the middle-income housing authority has the ability to enter into public-private partnerships by specifying that: the affordable rental housing component of a public-private partnership is exempt from state and local tax; a public-private partnership may transfer interest of the project to an entity other than the authority; the authority may issue bonds to finance affordable rental housing; and bonds issued by the authority may be paid with the revenue and assets of the affordable rental housing component of a partnership.

This bill changes the closing process in real estate transactions. It requires that funds intended to be used at closing have been received and deposited in a trust account at least one business day prior to closing and that the funds be confirmed as deposited and available upon closing. 

This bill creates the Office of Future of Work in statute and expands its duties. This bill also amends statutes to enable the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship to recognize Colorado’s state apprenticeship agency and modifies language to make this change.

The Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) was entitled to a distribution of $225 million in 2020; however, funds were deferred due to budgetary pressures. HB22-1029 made a partial repayment to PERA, and this bill makes full repayment to PERA for their entitled distribution by allocating an additional $35,050,000.

This bill prohibits employers from asking a job seeker about their age date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. Exceptions for compliance with occupational safety, federal law and state or local occupational requirements are allowed. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment would have authority to issue warnings and civil penalties for violations.

This bill amends consumer protection law regarding ticket sales and resales for events. The bill amends definitions related to event ticket sales including: specifying that a “reseller” includes an event operator who acts as a reseller of event tickets and defines a “rights holder” as a person with initial ownership rights to sell a ticket to an event. It also outlines a civil penalty structure for transactions in which one or more tickets are sold or acquired in a manner that constitutes a deceptive trade practice.

This bill removes the requirement to complete a qualified industry pre-apprenticeship program for the career development success program. Currently, the General Assembly appropriates $1 million annually to the department of education for the program. This bill increases the appropriation to $10 million annually. This bill also requires a school district to receive 120% of the pupil amount per pupil eligible for free and reduced lunch that successfully completes a qualified industry credential program.

This bill extends the Advanced Industry Export Acceleration Program and the Advanced Industries Acceleration Grant Program by 10 years. It also broadens eligibility for qualifying businesses to access an international export development expense reimbursement. Additionally, the Advanced Industry Export Acceleration program allows businesses to receive an international export development expense report, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

The legislation directs the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics to adopt rules that require disclosures about payments made to drivers and procedures regarding driver termination for delivery network companies (DNC) and transportation network companies (TNC). The bill would mandate that companies show the amount drivers and the business earn respectively. The legislation would also require gig companies to give drivers more information related to wages, time worked and expenses. Finally, this bill would create a review mechanism through the state that would allow drivers to challenge deactivations and terminations.

Current law authorizes the director of the division of labor standards to create and administer a process to accept and mediate complaints. The bill changes these authorizations to requirements. The bill additionally requires the director to: investigate complaints or other leads concerning wage inequity; if violation is found, order compliance and relief; and promulgate rules to enforce the bill. The bill also requires an employer to: follow specific guidelines for posting a job when the employer is considering more than one candidate; provide specific information to employees regarding the candidate selected and opportunity; and disclose the requirements for career progression and compensation, benefits, status, duties, and access to further advancement.

Under current law, citizens requesting formation of a special district must submit plans to the Board of County Commissioners or municipalities for each county which would contain this special district. For proposed metropolitan districts that submit plans to one or more Boards of County Commissioners or municipalities, this bill requires the service plan to include: the maximum mill levy that may be imposed; and the maximum debt that may be issued by the metropolitan district. The bill also requires the metropolitan district to have annual meetings if formed after Jan. 1, 2020; and also requires the board receive a statement of a registered municipal advisor certifying the interest rate of the debt. The bill further requires the seller of real property within a special district to provide the district’s website to the buyer, which will be disclosed on the Colorado Real Estate Commission seller’s property disclosure.

Currently, the “National Labor Relations Act” and the “Colorado Labor Peace Act” exclude certain public employees. This bill grants these public employees, including individuals employed by counties, municipalities, fire authorities, school districts, public colleges and universities, library districts, special districts, public defender's offices, the university of Colorado hospital authority, the Denver health and hospital authority, the general assembly, and a board of cooperative services certain rights. These rights include: the right to discuss and express views regarding workplace issues; engage in activity for mutual protection; fully participate in the political process while not in uniform and off-duty; and organize an employee organization. The bill also prohibits public employers from discriminating with or otherwise interfering with these activities.

This bill modifies existing retail delivery fees by permitting a retailer to pay the retail delivery fee (RDF) on behalf of the purchaser; requires the department of revenue to waive any processing costs for a retailer’s electronic payment by automated clearing house (ACH) debit of RDF if the charges would exceed the amount of the RDF revenue being remitted; creates an exemption from the RDF for a retail delivery by a qualified business defined as a business that has $500,000 or less of retail sales in the prior year or is new; and creates a primary definition for “retail delivery” to reflect current statute. If the retailer elects to pay the RDF, then the retailer is not required to add the RDF to the prices of the retail delivery, separately itemize the RDF, or collect the RDF from the purchaser, who is not liable for the amount nor eligible for a refund of an erroneously paid RDF; and required to remit the RDF on the date that would be required if the RDF had been received from the purchaser on the date of the retail delivery.

This bill requires entertainment venues with 7,000 or more seats to designate 4% of their seats as “substance-free seating." These seats cannot be higher or farther away relative to the other seats in the facility. These “substance-free seats” must be accessible to persons with disabilities and signs must be prominently displayed in and around the substance-free sections. Failure to comply with these regulations is deemed “good cause” for refusal or denial of an alcohol beverage license or initial license issuance.

This bill enacts the “Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights Act," which: directs the Colorado Civil Rights Division to include “harassment” as a basis of discrimination on any charge intake mechanism; adds a new definition of “harass” and “harassment” and repeals the current definition; adds protections from discrimination for individuals based on marital status; specifies that in harassment claims, conduct need not be severe or pervasive to constitute discrimination; eliminates the ability of employers to assert that an employee’s disability has a significant job impact as reason to not hire; and specifies that it is discriminatory to fail to launch an investigation of a complaint.

Currently, downtown development authorities may use a tax increment financing (TIF) arrangement for 30 years with the ability to extend for another 20 years. For property tax revenue only, this bill creates automatic and recurring additional 20 year extension periods for TIF arrangements unless the governing body of an authority opts out of the extensions. During the 20 year extension period, 50% of the incremental revenue is allocated to a special fund to finance projects within the authority’s boundaries, the other 50% is allocated to other entities that levy property taxes within the boundaries of the authority. During the last 10 years of the extension, the base revenue for the TIF is recalculated yearly; for an automatic and recurring extension, the bill requires the base year revenue to be recalculated every year.

This bill restricts the ability of a landlord to consider or inquire about certain information relating to a prospective tenant’s rental history, income and credit history, and requires the landlord to rent to the first prospective tenant who applies and meets the requirements of the rental and financial screening criteria. A landlord is required to keep a time-stamped receipt of each application submitted. This bill states that a landlord who violates the bill’s provisions is subject to an initial penalty of $50, and if the landlord does not cure the violation, he or she is subject to a $5,000 statutory penalty to be paid to the aggrieved party, plus initial damages, court costs and attorney fees. The bill further requires a landlord to allow a tenant to pay a security deposit in monthly installments equal to one half the term of the tenancy, and prohibits a landlord from charging a security deposit that is larger than one month’s rent.

Currently, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) may authorize a pooling order, which combines multiple mineral interests for purposes of drilling, which may include an owner who does not consent to the drilling for oil and gas on the mineral owner’s tract. This bill changes the commission process for entering a forced pooling order by: requiring an applicant prove that 45% or more of mineral rights owners consent to the pooling order; requiring the commission to determine if the minerals may be extracted without disturbing the tract of a nonconsenting mineral owner; requiring a forced pooling order be issued in a manner that minimizes adverse health and safety impacts; and requiring the commission to issue a pooling order before any minerals are extracted. 

This bill establishes the universal high school scholarship program for students who pursue an in-demand or high priority postsecondary education program. Students are eligible if they graduated from a Colorado high school and complete the free application for federal student aid. Each scholarship award is $1,500, and the bill requires the General Assembly to appropriate $25 million total for the program.

This bill, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, allows data centers to claim a refund on all state sales and use tax on purchases for construction materials or data center equipment necessary for construction or operation of the facility. To be eligible, the facility must obtain certification from the Office of Economic Development stating it is an eligible data center. An eligible center is defined as creating a certain number of jobs, generating a certain amount of revenue, and requiring a certain amount of power.

This bill requires the Director of the Department of Local Affairs to conduct a housing needs assessment every five years, beginning no later than Dec. 31, 2024, which must determine current statewide housing stock as well as future need. It also requires Urban Municipalities and Rural Resort Communities to develop their own housing needs assessments, which will detail their plan to address the housing needs assigned to them by the Department of Local Affairs. The bill also prohibits local governments from enacting any ordinance that does not allow construction of accessory dwelling units where single-family residential zoning is a use-by-right. In addition, the bill requires Tier 1 Urban Municipalities and Rural Resort Communities to allow middle housing (multiplex structures up to six units) to be constructed where single-family residential zoning is currently a use-by-right. In designated key corridors, the bill sets guidelines for number of units which must be reserved for low and moderate income households and sets minimum density standards. The bill also requires a municipality to adopt either a standard model code or adopt local laws that satisfy the minimum standards for the above provisions of the bill. Further, the bill prohibits municipalities from setting different or stricter standards on the construction of factory-built homes, prohibits minimum square footage, prohibits residential occupancy limits, and appropriates $15 million from the general fund to assist local governments to administer the provisions of the bill.

This bill requires hospitals to create a public list of all standard charges for all hospital items and services provided to patients. It also requires hospitals to make a public list of at least 300 shoppable services and report the lists to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. This bill also requires the department to monitor hospital compliance and issue a written notice if found in violation.

This bill modifies the “Uniform Election Code of 1992” in a number of ways. It allows any form of identification currently specified in the code to be presented electronically, changes requirements for preregistering 17-year-olds for general elections and expands disclosure requirements for candidates. The bill further specifies that the Department of State cannot use public funds for advertising featuring candidates for local, state or federal government offices. This bill increases the number of voting drop boxes on public university campuses, creates a new formula for county clerks to facilitate elections, and requires larger counties to begin counting ballots at least four days prior to election day.

This bill clarifies that money from the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” cash fund can be used by the Governor’s Office as project planning support and requires that the State Treasurer transfer $86 million from the general fund to the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” cash fund.

This bill socializes on-site solar costs to install systems; changes fuel cost modeling; gives discretion to the administrative state to determine the standard of review in cases on a case-by-case basis; mandates disclosure requirements; builds out extensive cost recovery exclusions; requires disclosure of individuals employed by regulated entities; including salaries and wages; establishes “fuel cost sharing” models; eliminates line extension allowances; establishes a study process to shorten depreciation lives; and grants special rights to non-regulated energy providers.