| HB20-1049 | Reauthorize Habitat For Humanity Tax Check-off |
| Sponsors: | S. Bird (D) | H. McKean / D. Coram | J. Bridges (D) |
| Short Title: | Reauthorize Habitat For Humanity Tax Check-off |
| Summary: | The bill reauthorizes the Habitat for Humanity of Colorado fund (fund) income tax check-off for an additional 5 years. The fund first appeared on the list of voluntary contributions on the Colorado income tax forms for income tax year 2015. Under current law, it will come off of the form following income tax year 2019. The bill reauthorizes the fund to remain on the form for income tax years 2019 through 2024, and extends the repeal of the relevant statutes to January 1, 2026. |
| Status: | 6/13/2020 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1089 | Employee Protection Lawful Off-duty Activities |
| Sponsors: | J. Melton |
| Short Title: | Employee Protection Lawful Off-duty Activities |
| Summary: | The bill prohibits an employer from terminating an employee for the employee's lawful off-duty activities that are lawful under state law even if those activities are not lawful under federal law. |
| Status: | 2/19/2020 House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: | Proposed bill would protect Colorado employees who fail marijuana drug tests |
| HB20-1112 | Expand Child Care Contribution Income Tax Credit |
| Sponsors: | E. Hooton |
| Short Title: | Expand Child Care Contribution Income Tax Credit |
| Summary: | There is currently a state income tax credit for a monetary contribution made prior to January 1, 2025, to promote child care in the state (credit). The credit is equal to 50% of a qualifying contribution. For income tax years that commence on or after January 1, 2020, the bill: Increases the age of a child from 12 to 18 in the definition of "child care", which expands the types of facilities to which a donation would qualify for the credit; and Specifies that a monetary contribution to a child advocacy center is a monetary contribution to promote child care in the state. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1122 | Homeless Youth Services Act And Grant Program |
| Sponsors: | E. Hooton | C. Larson / N. Todd | D. Hisey |
| Short Title: | Homeless Youth Services Act And Grant Program |
| Summary: | The bill updates language in the "Colorado Homeless Youth Services Act" and establishes the services for youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness grant program (grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The age requirement for such youth is increased to 24 years of age or younger from more than 11 years of age to less than 21 years of age. The department shall promulgate rules concerning the grant program, and the office of homeless youth services shall administer and monitor the grant program. The grant program consists of up to 5 awards of up to $250,000 each awarded on or before January 1, 2021. Grant awards may only be awarded to existing providers of services to youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, with priority given to those service providers that can expand services to underserved areas of the state, including street and community outreach, drop-in centers, emergency shelters, and supportive housing and transitional living programs. The bill requires the department to prepare and submit a report to the appropriate committees of the general assembly on the outcomes of the grant program. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1138 | Public Real Property Index |
| Sponsors: | J. Coleman (D) | C. Larson / J. Bridges (D) | B. Gardner (R) |
| Short Title: | Public Real Property Index |
| Summary: | Not later than December 31, 2020, the bill requires each state agency, state institution of higher education, and political subdivision of the state to submit to the office of the state architect (office) a list of all usable real property owned by or under the control of the agency, institution, or political subdivision of the state. This list must include, if applicable: The address where the real property is located; The size of the real property; How the real property is zoned; Contact information for the state agency, institution, or political subdivision of the state that owns or controls the real property; The plan, if one is available, for the use, development, or sale of the real property; and A description that includes the condition of the real property and a measurement of total area of the real property that is vacant, unused, or underdeveloped. Not later than December 31 of each subsequent year, each state agency, state institution, and political subdivision of the state must submit to the office any updates to the information the agency, institution, or political subdivision of the state originally submitted to the office about the usable real property the agency, institution, or political subdivision of the state owns or controls. Beginning July 1, 2021, whenever any state agency, state institution of higher education, or political subdivision of the state plans to offer any usable real property for sale, or otherwise plans to solicit any offer to purchase real property, the agency, institution, or political subdivision of the state shall notify the office. Not later than July 1, 2021, the office must establish and maintain a current database that includes the information listed above. This database must be available free of charge to the public on the office's website. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Support |
| News: |
| HB20-1154 | Workers' Compensation |
| Sponsors: | T. Kraft-Tharp | K. Van Winkle (R) / V. Marble | J. Bridges (D) |
| Short Title: | Workers' Compensation |
| Summary: | The bill: Clarifies when payments for benefits and penalties payable to an injured worker are deemed paid ( section 1 ); Adds guardian and conservator services to the list of medical aid that an employer is required to furnish to an employee who is incapacitated as a result of a work-related injury or occupational disease ( section 2 ); Requires a claimant for mileage reimbursement for travel related to obtaining compensable medical care to submit a request to the employer or insurer within 120 days after the expense is incurred and requires the employer or insurer to pay or dispute mileage within 30 days of submittal and to include in the brochure of claimants' rights an explanation of rights to mileage reimbursement and the deadline for filing a request ( sections 2 and 7 ); Clarifies that offsets to disability benefits granted by the federal "Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Amendments of 1965" only apply if the payments were not already being received by the employee at the time of the work-related injury ( section 3 ); Prohibits the reduction of an employee's temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or medical benefits based on apportionment under any circumstances; limits apportionment of permanent impairment to specific situations; and declares that the employer or insurer bears the burden of proof, by a preponderance of evidence, at a hearing regarding apportionment of permanent impairment or permanent total disability benefits ( section 4 ); Adds the conditions that, in order for an employer or insurer to request the selection of an independent medical examiner when an authorized treating physician has not determined that the employee has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), an examining physician must serve a written report to the authorized treating physician specifying that the examining physician has determined that the employee has reached MMI; the authorized treating physician must examine the employee at least 20 months after the date of the injury and determine that the employee has reached MMI; the authorized treating physician must be served with a written report indicating MMI; and the authorized treating physician has responded that the employee has not reached MMI or has failed to respond within 15 days after service of the report ( section 5 ); Changes the whole person impairment rating applicable to an injured worker from 25% to 19% for purposes of determining the maximum amount of combined temporary disability and permanent partial disability payments an injured worker may receive ( section 6 ); Prohibits an employer or insurer from withdrawing an admission of liability 2 years after the date the admission of liability on the issue of compensability was filed, except in cases of fraud ( section 7 ); Prohibits the director of the division of workers' compensation or an administrative law judge from determining issues of compensability or liability unless specific benefits or penalties are awarded or denied at the same time ( section 8 ); Clarifies the scope of authority of prehearing administrative law judges ( section 9 ); Increases the threshold amount that an injured worker must earn in order for permanent total disability payments to cease and allows for annual adjustment of the threshold amount starting in 2021 ( section 11 ); and Clarifies the orders that are subject to review or appeal ( sections 10 and 12 ). |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1160 | Drug Price Transparency Insurance Premium Reductions |
| Sponsors: | D. Jackson | D. Roberts (D) / J. Ginal (D) | K. Donovan |
| Short Title: | Drug Price Transparency Insurance Premium Reductions |
| Summary: | Section 1 of the bill enacts the "Colorado Prescription Drug Price TransparencyAct of 2020", which requires: Health insurers, starting in 2021, to submit to the commissioner of insurance (commissioner) information regarding prescription drugs covered under their health insurance plans that the health insurers paid for in the preceding calendar year, including information about rebates received from prescription drug manufacturers, a certification regarding how rebates were accounted for in insurance premiums, and a list of all pharmacy benefit management firms (PBMs) with whom they contract; Prescription drug manufacturers to notify the commissioner, state purchasers, health insurers, PBMs, pharmacies, and hospitals when the manufacturer, on or after January 1, 2021, increases the price of certain prescription drugs by more than specified amounts or introduces a new specialty drug in the commercial market; Prescription drug manufacturers, within 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter that starts on or after January 1, 2021, to provide specified information to the commissioner regarding the drugs about which the manufacturer notified purchasers; Health insurers or, if applicable, PBMs to annually report specified information to the commissioner regarding rebates and administrative fees received from manufacturers for prescription drugs they paid for in the prior calendar year and the average wholesale price paid for prescription drugs by individuals, small employers, and large employers enrolled in health plans issued by the health insurer or that contain prescription drug benefits managed or administered by the PBM; and Certain nonprofit organizations to compile and submit to the commissioner an annual report indicating the amount of each payment, donation, subsidy, or thing of value received by the nonprofit organization or its officers, employees, or board members from a prescription drug manufacturer, PBM, health insurer, or trade association and the percentage of the nonprofit organization's total gross income that is attributable to those payments, donations, subsidies, or things of value. The commissioner is required to post the information received from health insurers, prescription drug manufacturers, PBMs, and nonprofit organizations on the division of insurance's website, excluding any information that the commissioner determines is proprietary. Additionally, the commissioner, or a disinterested third-party contractor, is to analyze the data reported by health insurers, prescription drug manufacturers, PBMs, and nonprofit organizations and other relevant information to determine the effect of prescription drug costs on health insurance premiums. The commissioner is to publish a report each year, submit the report to the governor and specified legislative committees, and present the report during annual "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearings. The commissioner is authorized to adopt rules as necessary to implement the requirements of the bill. Health insurers that fail to report the required data are subject to a fine of up to $10,000 per day per report. Nonprofit organizations are subject to a fine of up to $10,000 for failure to comply with reporting requirements. Section 2 specifies that failing to ensure that a PBM that a health insurer uses to manage or administer its prescription drug benefits is complying with reporting requirements constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance. Section 3 specifies that a PBM is an entity that manages or administers prescription drug benefits for a health insurer, either pursuant to a contract or as an entity associated with the health insurer. Under sections 4 and 5 , a prescription drug manufacturer that fails to notify purchasers or fails to report required data to the commissioner is subject to discipline by the state board of pharmacy, including a penalty of up to $10,000 per day for each day the manufacturer fails to comply with the notice or reporting requirements. The commissioner is to report manufacturer violations to the state board of pharmacy. Section 6 requires a health insurer to reduce premiums for the health plans it issues or renews on or after January 1, 2022, to adjust for the rebates the health insurer received from prescription drug manufacturers in the previous plan year. |
| Status: | 6/1/2020 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| Calendar Notification: | Monday, June 15 2020 GENERAL ORDERS - SECOND READING OF BILLS (1) in house calendar. |
| Position: | Actively Monitor |
| News: | Roberts: Why we need transparency in prescription drug pricing |
| HB20-1203 | EITC Earned Income Tax Credit And Child Tax Credit And Income Definition |
| Sponsors: | E. Sirota (D) | M. Gray / J. Gonzales (D) |
| Short Title: | EITC Earned Income Tax Credit And Child Tax Credit And Income Definition |
| Summary: | The starting point for determining state income tax liability is federal taxable income. This number is adjusted for additions and subtractions that are used to determine Colorado taxable income, which amount is multiplied by the state's income tax rate. Section 3 of the bill requires an individual to add to his or her federal taxable income an amount equal to the federal income tax deduction that he or she took for his or her combined qualified business income amount. The federal deduction may be claimed for income tax years commencing prior to January 1, 2026. The earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit. Section 4 increases the percentage from 10% to 20% beginning in 2021. The state child tax credit, which is also a percentage of the federal child tax credit based on the taxpayer's income, is only allowed after the United States Congress enacts a version of the "Marketplace Fairness Act". Section 5 repeals this condition and instead allows the credit to be claimed beginning in 2021. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Support |
| News: |
| HB20-1204 | Tax Deduction For Donation To Scholarship Organization |
| Sponsors: | K. Ransom / J. Smallwood (R) | J. Tate |
| Short Title: | Tax Deduction For Donation To Scholarship Organization |
| Summary: | or income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2021, the bill allows an individual or corporate taxpayer to subtract from the taxpayer's federal taxable income any amount contributed to an eligible scholarship granting organization, to the extent such amount is not claimed as a deduction on the taxpayer's federal tax return. An eligible scholarship granting organization is defined as a charitable nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to dependent children for tuition expenses for the child's enrollment in a private school so long as the child qualifies for free or reduced-cost lunch. An eligible scholarship organization is required to undergo an annual financial and compliance audit of its accounts and records conducted by an independent certified public accountant and is required to submit the audit to the department of education. The department of education is required to review each audit it receives and submit an annual list to the department of revenue of eligible nonprofit scholarship granting organizations that are in compliance with the requirements specified for the deduction. |
| Status: | 2/27/2020 House Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1223 | Rural Arts Grant Program |
| Sponsors: | D. Esgar / D. Hisey | N. Todd |
| Short Title: | Rural Arts Grant Program |
| Summary: | The bill creates the rural arts grant program (grant program) in the creative industries division (division) in the office of economic development, to provide grants to artists to enhance rural prosperity through the arts and creative sector. To be eligible to receive a grant through the grant program, the artist or artists must live and work outside of the scientific and cultural facilities district and work with a qualified governmental or nonprofit organization (qualified organization) that will serve as the artist's sponsor in submitting a grant application. The division is required to implement and administer the grant program and award grants from the money annually appropriated by the general assembly for the grant program. The division is also required to promulgate rules for the implementation and administration of the grant program. The bill specifies the information that must be included in a grant application. The council on creative industries is required to review the applications and award grants based on specified criteria. Grant recipients may use the money received through the grant program for projects that advance the artistic and cultural goals of rural communities and their economies, projects that will enhance their community's culture, or projects that provide incentive for cross-community collaborations and that have the potential to contribute to the acceptance and consideration of differing perspectives. The division is required to disburse awarded grants to the qualified organization, which shall ensure that the grant money is available to the artist or artists for the purposes specified in the grant application. The qualified organization may use up to 5% of the total amount of grant money awarded for administrative costs associated with the grant. Each qualified organization that receives a grant shall, in partnership with the artist or artists who worked on the project, submit a report regarding the use of the grant money to the division after the completion of the project for which the grant money was used. The division is required to submit an annual summarized report to the general assembly regarding the grant program. |
| Status: | 6/13/2020 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1263 | Eliminate Sub-minimum Wage Employment |
| Sponsors: | Y. Caraveo | R. Pelton (R) / J. Gonzales (D) |
| Short Title: | Eliminate Sub-minimum Wage Employment |
| Summary: | The bill phases out sub-minimum wage employment for employers that hold a special certificate from the United States department of labor that authorizes employers to pay employees whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury less than the minimum wage. The bill requires each employer that holds a special certificate to submit a transition plan to the Colorado department of labor and employment detailing how the employer plans to phase out sub-minimum wage employment. The bill requires the employment first advisory partnership in the department of labor and employment to develop actionable recommendations to address structural and fiscal barriers to phase out sub-minimum wage employment and successfully implement competitive integrated employment and report the recommendations to the general assembly. The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to grant money to private employers, not to exceed $25,000 per employer, to provide assistance in developing and implementing a transition plan to phase out sub-minimum wage employment. The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to add employment-related services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1296 | Civil Action Statute Of Limitations Sexual Assault |
| Sponsors: | D. Michaelson Jenet (D) | M. Soper (R) / J. Gonzales (D) | D. Coram |
| Short Title: | Civil Action Statute Of Limitations Sexual Assault |
| Summary: | Under existing law, the statute of limitations to bring a civil claim based on sexual assault or a sexual offense against a child is 6 years, but the statute is tolled when the victim is a person under disability or is in a special relationship with the perpetrator of the assault. The bill defines sexual misconduct and removes the limitation on bringing a civil claim based on sexual misconduct, including claims brought against a person or entity that is not the perpetrator of the sexual misconduct. The statutory period to commence a civil action described in the bill applies to a cause of action that accrues on or after January 1, 2021, or a cause of action accruing prior to January 1, 2021, so long as the applicable statute of limitations has not yet run as of January 1, 2021. The bill removes the provision that a plaintiff who is a victim of a series of sexual assaults does not need to establish which act in the series caused the plaintiff's injuries. Under existing law, a plaintiff who brings a civil action alleging sexual misconduct 15 years or more after the plaintiff turns 18 is limited to recovering only certain damages. The bill eliminates this restriction. Under existing law, a victim who is a person under disability or is in a special relationship with the perpetrator of the assault may not bring an action against a defendant who is deceased or incapacitated. The bill eliminates this restriction. |
| Status: | 6/12/2020 Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Support |
| News: | Catholic group opposes Colorado bill that would give child sex abuse survivors the ability to sue their abuser at any time House gives final approval to bill expanding sex abuse victims' rights, but Senate path is unclear |
| HB20-1298 | Treat Economic Development Income Tax Credits Differently |
| Sponsors: | T. Kraft-Tharp | D. Esgar / L. Garcia (D) | J. Tate |
| Short Title: | Treat Economic Development Income Tax Credits Differently |
| Summary: | Current law allows the Colorado economic development commission to allow, subject to an annual maximum program amount, certain businesses that make a $100 million strategic capital investment Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing statute. in the state, and subject to the requirements of the specified income tax credits, to treat any of the following income tax credits allowed to the business as either carry forwardable for a 5-year period or transferable: * Colorado job growth incentive tax credit; * Enterprise zone income tax credit for investment in certain property; * Income tax credit for new enterprise zone business employees; and * Enterprise zone income tax credit for expenditures for research and experimental activities. This bill extends this program for another 3 years. |
| Status: | 5/28/2020 House Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1304 | Clarify Occasional Alcohol Beverage Sale Exemption |
| Sponsors: | A. Benavidez | M. Snyder (D) |
| Short Title: | Clarify Occasional Alcohol Beverage Sale Exemption |
| Summary: | urrent law provides that the occasional sales of alcohol by way of public auctions do not require a liquor license or compliance with the reporting requirements for licensed liquor distributors or retailers, so long as: The previous owner of the alcohol beverages has not claimed the beverages or furnished instruction for their disposition; The seller obtained the beverages as part of the foreclosure of a lien; The seller salvaged the beverages; or The seller operates a charitable organization and received the beverages as donations. However, the excise tax on alcohol beverages is nonetheless applicable to those occasional sales even though the licensing and compliance requirements do not apply. Because it is not clear that the excise tax on alcohol beverages still applies to those occasional sales, it was mistakenly identified as a tax expenditure in the department of revenue's tax expenditure report and thus mistakenly evaluated by the office of the state auditor as part of that office's evaluation of the state's tax expenditures. The bill clarifies the exemption. |
| Status: | 5/28/2020 House Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1305 | Crop And Livestock Contribution Tax Credit |
| Sponsors: | A. Benavidez | M. Snyder (D) |
| Short Title: | Crop And Livestock Contribution Tax Credit |
| Summary: | Under current law, the income tax credit for corporate crop and livestock contributions allows agricultural C corporations to claim an income tax credit of 25% of the value of the charitable crop or livestock contributions they make in a tax year, up to a maximum of $1,000. The bill eliminates the tax credit. |
| Status: | 5/28/2020 House Second Reading Laid Over to 12/31/2020 - No Amendments |
| Calendar Notification: | Thursday, December 31 2020 GENERAL ORDERS - SECOND READING OF BILLS (8) in house calendar. |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1322 | Public Participation Property Tax Manuals |
| Sponsors: | C. Larson | M. Gray / P. Lundeen (R) | D. Moreno (D) |
| Short Title: | Public Participation Property Tax Manuals |
| Summary: | The property tax administrator is required by law to prepare and publish manuals, appraisal procedures, instructions, and guidelines (property tax materials) concerning the administration of the property tax. Beginning January 1, 2021, section 1 of the bill requires the administrator to conduct a public hearing on a proposed change to the property tax materials prior to submitting the proposed change to the advisory committee to the property tax administrator (advisory committee). The administrator must publish notice of the hearing and mail notice to those people who so request. At the hearing, interested persons may submit information and the administrator is required to consider these submissions. Any interested person may also petition the administrator for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any property tax material. At least 2 weeks prior to the advisory committee reviewing a proposed change to the property tax materials, section 2 requires the property tax administrator to publish notice about the proposed change. |
| Status: | 5/28/2020 House Second Reading Laid Over to 12/31/2020 - No Amendments |
| Calendar Notification: | Thursday, December 31 2020 GENERAL ORDERS - SECOND READING OF BILLS (11) in house calendar. |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1323 | Special Olympics License Plate And Tax Check-off |
| Sponsors: | L. Cutter (D) | P. Will (R) / J. Bridges (D) |
| Short Title: | Special Olympics License Plate And Tax Check-off |
| Summary: | he Special Olympics Colorado fund voluntary contribution is currently scheduled to appear on the state income tax return form for income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, but prior to January 1, 2020. The bill extends the period during which the fund will appear on the form. The fund continues to appear on the form unless the fund fails to receive the minimum contribution required by statute in a certain tax year. The bill also creates a Special Olympics Colorado license plate. To be issued the plate, an applicant must pay a one-time $25 fee and make a donation to a nonprofit organization that: Is headquartered in Colorado; Has been in existence for at least 40 years; Provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities; Collaborates with schools throughout Colorado to bring students together, with and without disabilities, through shared activities that include sports, leadership opportunities, and health education and fitness; and Ensures that the donation is spent in Colorado to support athletes with intellectual disabilities. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1324 | Increased Support For Domestic Abuse Programs |
| Sponsors: | T. Carver | M. Duran (D) / R. Zenzinger (D) | P. Lundeen (R) |
| Short Title: | Increased Support For Domestic Abuse Programs |
| Summary: | The bill extends indefinitely the voluntary income tax return check-off for contributions to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund (fund). The bill also authorizes the department of human services to seek gifts, grants, and donations for the fund and to expend such money for domestic abuse programs. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Actively Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1329 | Department SMART Act Report Unfunded Programs |
| Sponsors: | C. Kipp (D) | L. Saine / N. Todd | P. Lundeen (R) |
| Short Title: | Department SMART Act Report Unfunded Programs |
| Summary: | Section 1 of the bill requires a department to annually submit a report of all unfunded programs (report) to staff of legislative council (staff) along with a SMART Act report. An "unfunded program" is defined as any program, service, study, or other function that a department is required or permitted by law to undertake, but for which the department has not received an appropriation or money from any other source for the last 6 fiscal years. Staff will provide the report to the applicable SMART Act joint committee of reference and a compilation of the reports to the statutory revision committee. The department is required to include the report in its SMART Act presentation to the joint committee of reference. Section 2 authorizes the statutory revision committee to recommend legislation to repeal an unfunded program included in the report. |
| Status: | 5/27/2020 Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1334 | Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program |
| Sponsors: | S. Gonzales-Gutierrez (D) | C. Larson / D. Moreno (D) |
| Short Title: | Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program |
| Summary: | The bill modifies specific provisions of the Tony Grampsas youth services program statute for general uniformity. |
| Status: | 5/27/2020 House Committee on Public Health Care & Human Services Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1342 | Property Tax Valuation Appeals |
| Sponsors: | M. Gray | C. Larson |
| Short Title: | Property Tax Valuation Appeals |
| Summary: | Sections 1 and 2 of the bill establish authority for the board of assessment appeals to refer a matter before it to a hearing officer for an expedited hearing, upon the request of a taxpayer in certain circumstances. There are deadlines for requesting and conducting the hearing and for the hearing officer to make his or her order. The procedure for the hearing is similar to those hearings conducted before the board. If unchanged by the board of assessment appeals, a hearing officer's order is appealable in the same manner as an order issued by the board. Section 3 creates the property tax valuation protest deadline task force. The task force consists of 7 members: The property tax administrator or the administrator's designee and 6 members appointed by the governor. The task force meets over one year and is required to consider and make recommendations to legislative committees to extend the taxpayer's deadline to protest a property tax valuation and to adjust other related deadlines. Under current law, an assessor may, with the permission of the board of county commissioners, include an estimate of property taxes owed in a notice of valuation. Section 4 requires an assessor to include this estimate and allows the assessor to include a range of values. If in the consideration of a protest an assessor finds that he or she made a systematic error and the valuations of other similar properties are incorrect, section 5 requires the assessor to correct the error for the other similar properties. |
| Status: | 5/27/2020 House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1349 | Colorado Affordable Health Care Option |
| Sponsors: | D. Roberts (D) | C. Kennedy / K. Donovan |
| Short Title: | Colorado Affordable Health Care Option |
| Summary: | Beginning January 1, 2022, the bill requires a health insurance carrier (carrier) that offers an individual health benefit plan in this state to offer a Colorado option plan in the Colorado counties where the carrier offers the individual health benefit plan. The commissioner of insurance (commissioner) is required to develop and implement a Colorado option plan that must: Be offered to Colorado residents who purchase health insurance in the individual market; Implement a standardized plan that: Allows consumers to easily compare health benefit plans; and Provides first-dollar, predeductible coverage for certain services; Include the essential health benefits package; Provide different, specific levels of coverage; Include a hospital reimbursement rate formula; Require hospital participation; Require a minimum medical loss ratio of 85%; and Require carriers and pharmacy benefit management firms to pass rebate savings through to consumers and document the savings and pass-through in a form and manner determined by the commissioner. The Colorado option advisory board (board) is created to advise and make recommendations to the commissioner on all aspects of the Colorado option plan. The bill authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules to develop, implement, and operate the Colorado option plan, including: Expanding the Colorado option plan to the small group market; Establishing a hospital reimbursement rate formula; and Requiring carriers to offer the Colorado option plan in specific counties. If a hospital refuses to participate in the Colorado option plan, the department of public health and environment may issue a warning, impose fines, or suspend, revoke, or impose conditions on the hospital's license. The commissioner, in consultation with the board, is required to evaluate the Colorado option plan beginning July 1, 2024, and each year thereafter. |
| Status: | 6/16/2020 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Actively Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1353 | Competitive Solicitation Under Procurement Code |
| Sponsors: | J. Coleman (D) |
| Short Title: | Competitive Solicitation Under Procurement Code |
| Summary: | A request for proposals (RFP) is one of many types of competitive solicitation methods that a state agency is authorized to use pursuant to the state "Procurement Code" (Code). Legislation enacted by the general assembly often directs a state agency to issue an RFP for a project rather than generally requiring the state agency to use a method of competitive solicitation authorized by the Code. The bill specifies that when a law requires a state agency to issue an RFP pursuant to the Code, the law will be construed to require a competitive solicitation pursuant to the Code, as deemed most appropriate and efficient for the project by the state agency, rather than only an RFP. |
| Status: | 5/27/2020 House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Actively Monitor |
| News: |
| HB20-1373 | Use Of Tobacco Revenues Under Fiscal Emergency |
| Sponsors: | D. Esgar | J. McCluskie (D) / D. Moreno (D) | R. Zenzinger (D) |
| Short Title: | Use Of Tobacco Revenues Under Fiscal Emergency |
| Summary: | Joint Budget Committee. Pursuant to the declaration of a state fiscal emergency (emergency declaration), for the 2020-21 fiscal year only, the bill expands the purposes for which tobacco tax revenues in the tobacco education programs fund and the prevention, early detection, and treatment fund may be used to include any health-related purpose and to serve populations enrolled in the children's basic health plan and the Colorado medical assistance program at the programs' respective levels of enrollment as of January 1, 2005. Also pursuant to the emergency declaration, for the 2020-21 fiscal year only, the bill authorizes grantees under certain programs funded through tobacco tax revenue to use the grant money to investigate and control the spread of COVID-19. The bill repeals an obsolete provision of law. The bill makes and reduces certain appropriations |
| Status: | 6/1/2020 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| Calendar Notification: | Monday, June 15 2020 GENERAL ORDERS - SECOND READING OF BILLS (2) in house calendar. |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| HJR20-1008 | Declaring Fiscal Emergency For Use Of Tobacco Tax |
| Sponsors: | D. Esgar | J. McCluskie (D) / D. Moreno (D) | R. Zenzinger (D) |
| Short Title: | Declaring Fiscal Emergency For Use Of Tobacco Tax |
| Summary: | *** No bill summary available *** |
| Status: | 6/1/2020 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| Calendar Notification: | Monday, June 15 2020 CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION(S) (1) in house calendar. |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-004 | Postsecondary Education Loan Repayment Assistance |
| Sponsors: | S. Fenberg (D) / L. Herod (D) | J. McCluskie (D) |
| Short Title: | Postsecondary Education Loan Repayment Assistance |
| Summary: | The bill creates the "Get on Your Feet Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program" to provide no more than 24 monthly payments on a qualified loan on behalf of a qualified recipient. A qualified recipient is required to satisfy eligibility and program participation requirements. The department of higher education is required to administer the program pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the commission on higher education. A person who received a program award but did not satisfy all eligibility and program participation requirements may be required to fully or partially reimburse the state. |
| Status: | 6/10/2020 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-012 | Transmit Renewable Energy Conservation Easements |
| Sponsors: | F. Winter (D) | J. Tate | C. Hansen (D) |
| Short Title: | Transmit Renewable Energy Conservation Easements |
| Summary: | Energy Legislation Review Interim Study Committee. A conservation easement is an agreement in which a property owner agrees to limit the use of his or her land in perpetuity in order to protect one or more specified conservation purposes. The bill specifically authorizes conservation easements to permit electric transmission lines that transmit renewable energy across the land subject to the easement if it is appropriate and consistent with the conservation purposes of the conservation easement |
| Status: | 2/4/2020 Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-019 | Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy |
| Sponsors: | J. Tate / A. Benavidez | R. Bockenfeld (R) |
| Short Title: | Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy |
| Summary: | Tax Expenditure Evaluation Interim Study Committee. The bill creates the legislative oversight committee concerning tax policy (committee), and the associated task force (task force). The committee is required to consider the policy considerations contained in the tax expenditure evaluations prepared by the state auditor and is responsible for the oversight of the task force. The committee may recommend legislative changes that are treated as bills recommended by an interim legislative committee. The task force is required to study tax policy and develop and propose for committee consideration any modifications to the current system of state and local taxation. The task force is also authorized, upon request by a committee member, to provide evidence-based feedback on the potential benefits or consequences of a legislative or other policy proposal not directly affiliated with or generated by the task force, including any bill or resolution introduced by the general assembly that affects tax policy. |
| Status: | 5/28/2020 Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 12/25/2020 - No Amendments |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-020 | Reduce The State Income Tax Rate |
| Sponsors: | J. Sonnenberg / R. Pelton (R) | R. Holtorf (R) |
| Short Title: | Reduce The State Income Tax Rate |
| Summary: | For income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2020, the bill: * Reduces both the individual and the corporate state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.49%; and * Reduces the state alternative minimum tax by 0.14%. |
| Status: | 1/22/2020 Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-054 | Rural Development Grant Program Creation |
| Sponsors: | D. Coram / B. McLachlan (D) |
| Short Title: | Rural Development Grant Program Creation |
| Summary: | The bill creates the rural development grant program to be administered by the Colorado office of economic development. The grants are to be awarded to early stage rural businesses that are primary employers in a rural area with the potential to export goods or services outside of the rural area or for the programmatic expenses of economic development organizations that help promote early stage rural businesses. Early stage rural businesses must be at the seed stage of capital financing, have raised less than $500,000 of third-party capital, and must be able to provide nonstate matching funding equal to at least 1/3 of the grant award. Grants to the early stage rural businesses may be used for developing prototypes, proof of business concepts, or proof of business models. The grants are funded from the general fund and are limited to no more than $150,000 per early stage rural business per year |
| Status: | 2/6/2020 Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-099 | Thresholds For Sales Tax Collection Requirements |
| Sponsors: | B. Rankin / P. Will (R) |
| Short Title: | Thresholds For Sales Tax Collection Requirements |
| Summary: | The bill changes the dollar threshold for economic nexus for purposes of retail sales made by retailers without physical presence in the state from $100,000 to $200,000. Current law temporarily allows small retailers with physical presence in the state that have retail sales of $100,000 or less to source sales to the business' location regardless of where the purchaser receives the tangible personal property or service, thus providing an exception to the sales tax sourcing rule. The bill changes this threshold to $200,000 or less in retail sales and makes the exception permanent. |
| Status: | 2/4/2020 Senate Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-122 | Mobile Veteran Support Unit Grant Program |
| Sponsors: | K. Donovan |
| Short Title: | Mobile Veteran Support Unit Grant Program |
| Summary: | The bill establishes the mobile veteran support unit grant program (grant program) to provide one-time grants to nonprofit organizations to establish mobile veteran support units. A mobile veteran support unit acts as an initial point of contact for veterans to obtain health and well-being services, including mental health services, dental health services, telehealth services, military benefit assistance, and housing assistance. The department of public health and environment (department) administers the grant program. The department must consult with the Colorado board of veterans affairs when adopting grant program rules. |
| Status: | 6/10/2020 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-133 | Business Fiscal Impact Statements |
| Sponsors: | R. Woodward / T. Kraft-Tharp | D. Williams |
| Short Title: | Business Fiscal Impact Statements |
| Summary: | The bill requires the staff of the legislative council to prepare business fiscal impact notes (notes) on legislative bills in each regular session of the general assembly. The speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate are authorized to request 2 notes each, or more at the discretion of the director of research of the legislative council. The bill requires the staff of the legislative council to meet with the member of leadership requesting the note and with the sponsor of the legislative bill to discuss whether a note can practically be completed for that legislative bill. If not, the member of leadership may request a note on a different legislative bill. A business fiscal impact note is defined as a note that uses available data to analyze the potential direct economic effects of a legislative bill on Colorado businesses, including costs related to compliance, impacts on hiring or job losses, savings or cost reductions, and other fiscal impacts. The bill requires the director of research of the legislative council to develop the procedures for requesting, completing, and updating the notes and to memorialize the procedures in a letter to the executive committee of the legislative council. The staff of the legislative council must designate a 5-day period during which Colorado businesses can submit comments on the impacts of a legislative bill selected for the preparation of the note, or a shorter time if the bill is selected during the last 30 days of session. The staff must summarize and compile the comments as part of the note. Finally, the legislative bill requires each state department, agency, or institution to cooperate with and provide information for a note of a legislative bill in the manner requested by the staff of the legislative council. |
| Status: | 2/3/2020 Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-135 | Conservation Easement Working Group Proposals |
| Sponsors: | J. Sonnenberg | K. Donovan / D. Roberts (D) | J. Wilson |
| Short Title: | Conservation Easement Working Group Proposals |
| Summary: | A working group was convened over the 2019 interim pursuant to House Bill 19-1264 to develop proposed statutes to address certain issues affecting the creation, valuation, tax treatment, and stewardship of conservation easements in the state. The bill implements the recommendations of the working group as follows: Section 1 of the bill modifies the method of calculating the amount of the state income tax credit that may be claimed for the donation of a conservation easement. The section also clarifies the manner in which certain business entities claim the credit. Section 2 requires the state to provide compensation for certain taxpayers who were denied state income tax credits for conservation easements donated between 2000 and 2013 if the federal internal revenue service allowed a federal income tax deduction for the same donation. The amount of the compensation is based upon the amount of the credit that could have been claimed at the time of the original donation based upon the value of the donation accepted by the internal revenue service. The amount of compensation is reduced by any amount that was allowed to be claimed against Colorado income tax or otherwise reinstated to the claimant of the compensation. Where a tax credit was transferred to another taxpayer as transferee, the bill provides a process for all parties to the transaction to submit a mutual application for compensation or, if there is objection, a process to resolve disputes about the distribution of compensation. The total amount of compensation to be paid to all claimants is limited to the amount of unused conservation easement tax credits that could have been claimed between 2013 and 2019 under an existing statutory cap amount, but were not claimed. If the unclaimed amounts are not sufficient to satisfy all claims, then any unsatisfied claims would be paid in future years. The cap for each future year would be reduced by the amount of claims paid; except that the total amount of claims paid in a year could not exceed 50% of the amount of the cap for that year. Section 3 requires the director of the division of conservation to designated an ombudsman to assist in resolving certain disputes related to conservation easements. Section 3 also addresses the abandonment of conservation easements, which occurs when the holder of an easement no longer fulfills its stewardship obligations with respect to the easement. The division of conservation is required to investigate potential abandoned easements, make findings regarding each easement, and report its findings to the conservation easement oversight commission (commission). The commission then conducts a public hearing on the easement and, if it determines that an easement is abandoned, appoints a receiver to monitor the easement. Receivership for an abandoned easement is limited to 5 years, during which time the commission reviews the easement and attempts to identify options to reform the easement, have it assigned to another holder, or extinguish the easement. A stewardship account is established to provide for the cost of carrying out the stewardship obligations resulting from abandoned easements. A specified amount of money is appropriated to the stewardship account for the 2020-21 fiscal year, with a corresponding reduction in the amount of conservation easement tax credits that can be claimed for one year. |
| Status: | 6/13/2020 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: | Colorado aims to undo conservation easement tax-credit mess from 10 years ago |
| SB20-154 | Bring Own Wine Into Restaurants |
| Sponsors: | K. Donovan |
| Short Title: | Bring Own Wine Into Restaurants |
| Summary: | The bill requires an establishment that holds a hotel and restaurant license to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises to allow a customer of the licensee who is at least 21 years of age to bring one container containing up to 750 milliliters of vinous liquor into the licensed premises where meals are actually and regularly served for the on-premises consumption by the costumer or the customer and the customer's companions who are also at least 21 years of age during a meal that the customer, and the companions of the customer, if any, have ordered from the licensee, unless:
The bill allows a customer to reseal and remove from the licensed premises an opened container of partially consumed vinous liquor that the customer brought into the licensed premises.
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| Status: | 2/12/2020 Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Actively Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-178 | Woman Veteran Disability License Plate |
| Sponsors: | R. Zenzinger (D) | J. Danielson (D) / T. Carver | D. Michaelson Jenet (D) |
| Short Title: | Woman Veteran Disability License Plate |
| Summary: | Veterans who have disabilities may obtain a special license plate without paying taxes or fees. For additional vehicles, the veteran pays the normal fees plus 2 one-time fees of $25, one of which goes to the highway users tax fund and the other goes to the licensing services cash fund. The bill creates a license plate that honors United States women veterans who have disabilities. The requirements and benefits are substantially the same as they are for a disabled veteran license plate. |
| Status: | 5/28/2020 House Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Monitor |
| News: |
| SB20-216 | Workers' Compensation For COVID-19 |
| Sponsors: | R. Rodriguez (D) / K. Mullica (D) |
| Short Title: | Workers' Compensation For COVID-19 |
| Summary: | The bill establishes the health insurance affordability enterprise, for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution, that is authorized to assess a health insurance affordability fee (insurer fee) on certain health insurers and a special assessment (hospital assessment) on hospitals in order to: * Provide business services to carriers that pay the fee, including services to increase enrollment in health benefit plans offered by carriers across the state; increasing the number of individuals who are able to purchase health benefit plans in the individual market by providing financial support for certain qualifying individuals; funding the reinsurance program that offsets the costs carriers would otherwise pay for covering consumers with high medical costs; improving the stability of the market throughout the state by providing consistent private health care coverage and reducing the movement of individuals between group and individual coverage and from insured to uninsured status; and reducing provider cost shifting from the individual market and the uninsured to the group market; and * Provide business services to hospitals, including increasing hospital revenues by reducing the amount of uncompensated care provided by hospitals; and reducing the need of providers to shift costs of providing uncompensated care to other payers. The enterprise is to start assessing and collecting the insurer fee in 2021, which fee is based on a percentage of premiums collected by health insurers in the previous calendar year on health benefit plans issued in the state. The hospital assessment is a specified amount assessed and collected in the 2022 and 2023 calendar years. Money collected from the insurer fee and hospital assessment is to be deposited in the health insurance affordability cash fund (fund), which the bill creates. The bill also transfers an amount of premium taxes collected by the state in 2020 or later years that exceeds the amount collected in 2019, but not more than 10% of the enterprise's revenues, to the fund. The enterprise is required to use the insurer fee, the hospital assessment, and any premium tax revenues or other money available in the fund, in accordance with the allocation specified in the bill, for the following purposes: * To provide funding for the reinsurance program established by House Bill 19-1168; * To provide payments to carriers to increase the affordability of health insurance on the individual market for Coloradans who receive the premium tax credit available under federal law; * To provide subsidies for state-subsidized individual health coverage plans purchased by qualified low-income individuals who are not eligible for the premium tax credit or public assistance health care programs; * To pay the actual administrative costs of the enterprise and the division of insurance for implementing and administering the bill, limited to 3% of the enterprise's revenues; and * To pay the costs for consumer enrollment, outreach, and education activities regarding health care coverage. The enterprise is governed by a 9-member board composed of the executive director of the Colorado health benefit exchange and the commissioner of insurance or their designees and 7 members appointed by the governor and representing various aspect of the health care industry and health care consumers. With regard to the reinsurance program and enterprise established pursuant to House Bill 19-1168, the bill: * Incorporates the reinsurance program enterprise within the health insurance affordability enterprise; * Eliminates funding for the reinsurance program from special assessments on hospitals and health insurers, excess premium tax revenues, and specified transfers from the state general fund and instead allocates a portion of the health insurance affordability enterprise revenues to the reinsurance program annually; and * Extends the reinsurance program, subject to federal approval of a new or extended state innovation waiver to enable the state to operate the reinsurance program and access federal funding for the program |
| Status: | 6/10/2020 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely |
| Calendar Notification: | NOT ON CALENDAR |
| Position: | Actively Monitor |
| News: |