HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Mail Packet - 04/01/2025 - Legislative Review Committee Agenda – April 1, 2025
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80522
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Legislative Review Committee Agenda
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
4:00 - 5:00PM
Council Information Chambers (CIC) in City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave
In-person with Teams option: Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 250 200 716 883 Passcode: Kx7t7MH3
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A. Call Meeting to Order
B. Approval of Minutes from March 18, 2025. Draft attached
C. Bill Overview and Discussion
Position Bills
a. HB-1029: Municipal Authority over Certain Land-Support – (PASSED and headed to Governor!)
b. HB-1039 Commercial Vehicle Muffler Requirements- Support
c. HB- 1044: Local Funding for Vulnerable Road User Protection-Support (PI’d; new bill anticipated)
d. HB-1051: Repeal Recycled Bag Carryout Fee- Oppose (has been Postponed Indefinitely)
e. HB-1056: Local Government Permitting Wireless Telecommunications Facilities-Oppose
f. HB-1060: Electronic Fence Detection System – Oppose
g. HB-1077: Backflow Prevention Devices Requirement – Support (Passed)
h. HB-1096: Automated Permits for Clean Energy Technology – Oppose
i. HB-1113: Limit Turf in New Residential Development – Monitor
j. HB-1147: Fairness and Transparency in Municipal Court – Oppose (Passed)
k. HB-1224: Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Modifications (CML Amend)(Passed)
l. HB-1268: Utility On-Bill Repayment Program Financing – Support
m. HB-1272: Construction Defects & Middle Market Housing – Support
n. HB 1276: Court Actions Related to Failure to Appear in Court – Support
o. HB 1295: Food Truck Operations – Monitor
p. SB-001: Colorado Voting Rights Act – Monitor
q. SB-002: Regional Building Codes for Factory-Built Structures – Amend
r. SB-020: Tenant and Landlord Law Enforcement – Amend (Sponsor NOT open to amendments)
s. SB-030: Increase Transportation Mode Choice Reduce Emissions – Amend
t. SB-077: Modifications to Colorado Open Records Act – Monitor
u. SB-163: Battery Storage Programs – Support
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80522
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Tracked Bills
a. HB-1031: Law Enforcement Whistleblower Protection (CML Amend)
b. HB-1032: Improving Infrastructure to Reduce Homelessness (CML Amend)
c. HB-1169: Housing Developments on Faith and Educational Land (CML Oppose)
d. HB- 1239: Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CML Oppose) (Fiscal Note)
e. HB-1273: Residential Building Stair Modernization (CML Oppose)
f. HB 1300: Workers' Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement (CML Oppose)
Noted Bills that Passed
a. SB 046: Local Government Tax Audit Confidentiality Standards
The Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force introduced this bill to establish uniform
confidentiality standards for third-party auditors conducting sales or use tax investigations on
behalf of local taxing jurisdictions.
D. CC4CA/CML Policy related
E. Other Business
F. Adjournment
Next Scheduled Committee Meetings:
• Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
• Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
• Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM – Passed Bills Overview and Update
City Manager’s Office
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DRAFT-Legislative Review Committee Agenda
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
A. Call Meeting to Order at 4:02PM
Councilmembers present: Councilmember Canonico, Councilmember Ohlson, Councilmember Pignataro
Staff/Lobbyists present: Tyler Marr, Ginny Sawyer, Dianne Criswell, Megan DeMasters, Jenn Cassell
B. Approval of Minutes from March 4, 2025.
Moved by Pignataro, seconded by Ohlson, motion passed 3-0.
C. Bill Overview and Discussion
Position Bills
• HB-1029: Municipal Authority over Certain Land-Support – (PASSED and headed to Governor!)
• Requested bill signing and will ensure governor is on-board with no questions.
• Committee requested detail on final amendments. Staff will follow-up.
• HB-1039 Commercial Vehicle Muffler Requirements- Support
• HB- 1044: Local Funding for Vulnerable Road User Protection-Support (PI’d; new bill anticipated)
• Still waiting on next version of bill but expect a $3.50 surcharge on all car insurance to fund
crash prevention efforts, including 20% for wildlife crossings.
• HB-1051: Repeal Recycled Bag Carryout Fee- Oppose (has been Postponed Indefinitely)
• HB-1056: Local Government Permitting Wireless Telecommunications Facilities-Oppose
• CML was able to get a tolling amendment on this bill.
• HB-1060: Electronic Fence Detection System – Oppose
• HB-1077: Backflow Prevention Devices Requirement – Support (Passed)
• HB-1096: Automated Permits for Clean Energy Technology – Oppose
• Staff will continue to testify in opposition. Ginny will send Jenn notes on this item.
• HB-1113: Limit Turf in New Residential Development – Monitor
• HB-1147: Fairness and Transparency in Municipal Court – Oppose (Passed)
• HB-1224: Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Modifications (CML Amend)
• HB-1268: Utility On-Bill Repayment Program Financing – Support
• HB-1272: Construction Defects & Middle Market Housing – Support
• SB-001: Colorado Voting Rights Act – Monitor
• SB-002: Regional Building Codes for Factory-Built Structures – Amend
• SB-020: Tenant and Landlord Law Enforcement – Amend (Sponsor NOT open to amendments)
• Will continue to watch this bill and possibly consider running a bill next year that would add
commercial property in specific situations.
• SB-030: Increase Transportation Mode Choice Reduce Emissions – Amend
• SB-077: Modifications to Colorado Open Records Act – Monitor
• SB-163: Battery Storage Programs – Support
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Tracked Bills
a. HB-1031: Law Enforcement Whistleblower Protection (CML Amend)
b. HB-1032: Improving Infrastructure to Reduce Homelessness (CML Amend)
c. HB 1042: Air Quality Control Regulation Workforce Impact (Fiscal Note)
d. HB-1169: Housing Developments on Faith and Educational Land (CML Oppose)
• Passed the House.
e. HB- 1239: Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CML Oppose) (Fiscal Note)
f. HB-1273: Residential Building Stair Modernization (CML Amend)
g. HB-1276: Court Actions Related to failure to Appear in Court (CML Support)
• With the passage of HB 1147, committee will move to a Support position.
h. HB-1295: Food Truck Operations (CML Oppose)
• Move to Monitor position.
i. SB-132: Spirituous Liquor Manufacturer Tastings Conducted (CML Oppose)
j. SB-161: Transit Reform (CML Amend)
k. SB 182: Embodied Carbon Reduction (Fiscal Note)
l. Also discussed HB 1300: Workers' Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement
• Will keep this on the Tracked Bills list.
D. CC4CA/CML Policy related
• CC4CA looking at: HB 1292 Transmission Lines in State Highway Rights-of-Way
E. Other Business
• Staff will identify a time to provide a report-out on bills of interest that pass the session.
F. Adjournment
Fort Collins Position Bills – April 1, 2025
Bill # Title Description Position Status
Sponsors (House and
Senate)
HB25-
1029
Municipal Authority over
Certain Land
Concerning the scope of municipal authority over land that a
municipality acquires that is outside its municipal limits.
Support Governor Signed (03/26/2025) House: A. Boesenecker
(D); Senate: L. Liston
(R), C. Kipp (D)
HB25-
1039
Commercial Vehicle Muffler
Requirements
Concerning muffler requirements for commercial vehicles. Support House Committee on
Transportation, Housing & Local
Government Refer Amended to
Appropriations (01/28/2025)
House: B. Titone (D), L.
Smith (D); Senate: M.
Catlin (R), D. Roberts
(D)
HB25-
1044
Local Funding for
Vulnerable Road User
Protection
Concerning authorization for local governments to generate additional
fee-based funding for local vulnerable road user protection strategies.
Support House Committee on
Transportation, Housing & Local
Government Postpone
Indefinitely (02/12/2025)
House: A. Boesenecker
(D); Senate: F. Winter
(D), L. Cutter (D)
HB25-
1051
Repeal Recycled Paper
Carryout Bag Fee
Concerning repealing the requirement that retail establishments
charge a fee for providing recycled paper carryout bags.
Oppose House Committee on Energy &
Environment Postpone
Indefinitely (02/06/2025)
House: R. Gonzalez
(R), R. Pugliese (R);
Senate: B. Pelton (R)
HB25-
1056
Local Government
Permitting Wireless
Telecommunications
Facilities
Concerning local government permitting of wireless
telecommunications facilities.
Oppose House Considered Senate
Amendments - Result was to
Laid Over Daily (03/19/2025)
House: J. Bacon (D), M.
Lukens (D); Senate: D.
Roberts (D), N.
Hinrichsen (D)
HB25-
1060
Electronic Fence Detection
Systems
Concerning the use of electronic fence detection systems. Oppose Introduced In Senate - Assigned
to Local Government & Housing
(03/04/2025)
House: M. Soper (R),
C. Clifford (D); Senate:
K. Mullica (D), B.
Kirkmeyer (R)
HB25-
1077
Backflow Prevention
Devices Requirements
Concerning requirements for individuals who work on backflow
prevention devices, and, in connection therewith, removing the
licensure requirement for individuals who inspect, test, or repair the
devices.
Support Sent to the Governor
(03/20/2025)
House: N. Ricks (D), S.
Lieder (D); Senate: D.
Roberts (D), J. Rich (R)
HB25-
1096
Automated Permits for
Clean Energy Technology
Concerning automated permitting for residential clean energy
technology projects, and, in connection therewith, requiring counties
and municipalities over a certain population and the state electrical
board to implement an automated residential solar permitting platform
to review and issue permits related to residential solar panel
installations.
Oppose House Second Reading Laid
Over Daily - No Amendments
(03/25/2025)
House: L. Smith (D), K.
Brown (D); Senate: M.
Ball (D)
HB25-
1113
Limit Turf in New
Residential Development
Concerning limiting the use of certain landscaping practices in new
residential development.
Monitor Introduced In Senate - Assigned
to Agriculture & Natural
Resources (03/06/2025)
House: L. Smith (D), K.
McCormick (D); Senate:
D. Roberts (D)
HB25-
1147
Fairness & Transparency in
Municipal Court
Concerning measures to ensure that municipal court defendants are
subject to similar conditions as state court defendants.
Oppose Introduced In Senate - Assigned
to Judiciary (03/12/2025)
House: J. Mabrey (D),
E. Velasco (D); Senate:
M. Weissman (D), J.
Amabile (D)
HB25-
1224
Revised Uniform Unclaimed
Property Act Modifications
Concerning modification of the ""Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property
Act"".
Monitor Introduced In Senate - Assigned
to Finance (03/25/2025)
House: B. Titone (D),
M. Soper (R); Senate:
M. Snyder (D)
2
HB25-
1268
Utility On-Bill Repayment
Program Financing
Concerning the financing of a utility on-bill repayment program for
certain energy-related improvements.
Support House Committee on Energy &
Environment Refer Amended to
Finance (03/20/2025)
House: M. Froelich (D),
J. Joseph (D); Senate:
F. Winter (D), K. Mullica
(D)
HB25-
1272
Construction Defects &
Middle Market Housing
Concerning housing. Support House Second Reading Laid
Over Daily - No Amendments
(03/21/2025)
House: S. Bird (D), A.
Boesenecker (D);
Senate: J. Coleman
(D), D. Roberts (D)
HB25-
1276
Court Actions Related to
Failure to Appear in Court
Concerning defendants who fail to appear in court, and, in connection
therewith, permitting certain conditions on pre-trial release for
defendants who have previously failed to appear.
Support Introduced In House - Assigned
to Judiciary (02/20/2025)
House: S. Bird (D), M.
Soper (R); Senate: D.
Roberts (D), L. Frizell
(R)
HB25-
1295
Food Truck Operations Concerning the operation of food trucks, and, in connection therewith,
establishing a reciprocal licensing and permitting system between
local government jurisdictions for the operation of food trucks.
Monitor House Committee on
Transportation, Housing & Local
Government Refer Amended to
House Committee of the Whole
(03/25/2025)
House: M. Rutinel
(D); Senate:
SB25-
001
Colorado Voting Rights Act Concerning the administration of elections, and, in connection
therewith, creating the Colorado Voting Rights Act.
Monitor Senate Committee on
Appropriations Refer Amended
to Senate Committee of the
Whole (03/26/2025)
Senate: J. Gonzales
(D); House: J. Bacon
(D), J. Joseph (D)
SB25-
002
Regional Building Codes for
Factory-Built Structures
Concerning the development of regional building codes that account
for local climatic and geographic conditions for the construction and
installation of residential and nonresidential factory-built structures.
Amend Senate Committee on
Appropriations Refer Amended
to Senate Committee of the
Whole (03/26/2025)
Senate: J. Bridges (D),
T. Exum Sr. (D); House:
A. Boesenecker (D), R.
Stewart (D)
SB25-
020
Tenant and Landlord Law
Enforcement
Concerning the enforcement of existing landlord-tenant law. Amend Senate Committee on
Appropriations Refer
Unamended to Senate
Committee of the Whole
(03/26/2025)
Senate: M. Weissman
(D), J. Gonzales (D);
House: M. Lindsay (D),
J. Mabrey (D)
SB25-
030
Increase Transportation
Mode Choice Reduce
Emissions
Concerning measures to increase transportation mode choice to
reduce emissions.
Amend Senate Committee on
Transportation & Energy Refer
Amended to Appropriations
(03/12/2025)
Senate: F. Winter (D),
N. Hinrichsen (D);
House: M. Froelich (D)
SB25-
077
Modifications to Colorado
Open Records Act
Concerning modifications to the ""Colorado Open Records Act"". Monitor House Second Reading Laid
Over Daily - No Amendments
(03/13/2025)
Senate: J. Rich (R), C.
Kipp (D); House: M.
Soper (R), M. Carter
(D)
SB25-
163
Battery Stewardship
Programs
Concerning the establishment of battery stewardship programs for the
disposal of certain batteries.
Support Senate Committee on Health &
Human Services Refer Amended
to Appropriations (02/26/2025)
Senate: L. Cutter (D);
House: K. Brown (D),
R. Stewart (D)
Fort Collins Tracking Bills – March 18, 2025
Bill # Title Summary
HB25-
1169
Housing Developments on
Faith and Educational Land
The bill requires a subject jurisdiction, on or after December 31, 2026, to allow a
residential development to be constructed on a qualifying property that does not contain
an exempt parcel, subject to an administrative approval process. The bill specifies that a
subject jurisdiction shall not: • Disallow construction of a residential development on the
basis of height if the tallest structure in the residential development is no more than 3
stories or 45 feet tall; • Disallow construction of a residential development on the basis of
height if the tallest structure in the residential development complies with the height-
related standards for the zoning district in which the residential development will be built or
any zoning district that is contiguous to the qualifying property on which the residential
development will be built; • Disallow construction of a residential development based on
the number of dwelling units that the residential development will contain, except in
accordance with standards listed in the bill; or • Apply standards to a residential
development on a qualifying property that are more restrictive than the standards the
subject jurisdiction applies to similar housing constructed within the subject jurisdiction,
including standards related to structure setbacks from property lines; lot coverage or open
space; on-site parking requirements; numbers of bedrooms in a multifamily residential
development; or on-site landscaping, screening, and buffering requirements. A subject
jurisdiction shall allow the following uses in a residential development on a qualifying
property: • Childcare; and • The provision of recreational, social, or educational services
provided by community organizations for use by the residents of the residential
development and the surrounding community. A subject jurisdiction may condition
additional uses in a residential development on the uses being allowed only on the ground
floor of the residential development and the uses occupying no more than 15% of the
ground floor area of the residential development. The bill requires a faith-based
organization, school district, or state college or university to notify the county assessor that
a subject jurisdiction has allowed the construction of a residential development on a
qualifying property within the county.
Fort Collins Tracking Bills – March 18, 2025
2
HB25-
1239
Colorado Anti-
Discrimination Act
The bill consolidates damages provisions for individuals with disabilities who experience
an unfair housing practice, discrimination in places of public accommodation, or a violation
of their civil rights with the general protections under the Colorado anti-discrimination act
(CADA) for all protected classes. With the consolidation of these provisions, the allowable
remedies under CADA include a court order requiring compliance with the applicable
section of CADA, actual monetary damages, attorney fees and costs, damages for
noneconomic loss or injury, and a statutory fine of $5,000 per aggrieved party and per
violation. An award of damages for noneconomic loss or injury is capped at $50,000, and
if a defendant is a small business, it is entitled to a 50% reduction of a noneconomic loss
or injury award if it corrects the violation within 30 days of the complaint being filed and did
not knowingly or intentionally make or cause to be made the violation. The bill also
extends the deadline for filing a charge with the Colorado civil rights commission alleging
discrimination in places of public accommodation or discriminatory advertising from 60
days to one year after the alleged discriminatory act occurred.
HB25-
1273
Residential Building Stair
Modernization
The bill defines a subject jurisdiction as a municipality with a population of 100,000 or
more that is served by a fire protection district or fire department that is or was accredited
by a specified organization. On or before December 1, 2027, the bill requires the
governing body of a subject jurisdiction to adopt a building code, or amend an existing
building code, to allow up to 5 stories of a multifamily residential building that satisfies
certain conditions to be served by a single exit. This requirement only applies to the area
within a subject jurisdiction that is served by a single fire protection district or fire
department. The bill also clarifies that the adoption or amendment of a building code to
satisfy the requirements of the bill does not qualify as adopting or enforcing a building
code for the purpose of determining whether the governing body of a municipality is
required to adopt an energy code.
Fort Collins Tracking Bills – March 18, 2025
3
HB25-
1276
Court Actions Related to
Failure to Appear in Court
Under current law, a court is required to release a person on a personal recognizance
bond if the person was charged with an offense for a violation with a maximum penalty
that does not exceed 6 months' imprisonment, and the court cannot require the person to
give security of any kind for their appearance for trial other than their personal
recognizance, unless certain conditions exist. The bill clarifies these provisions apply in
both state and municipal courts. The bill adds to the conditions for which a person may be
required to give security that the defendant previously failed to appear in court 2 or more
times in the present case. Existing law prohibits a court from imposing a monetary
condition of release for a defendant charged with a traffic offense, petty offense, or
comparable municipal offense, or a municipal offense for which there is no comparable
state misdemeanor offense, with specified exceptions. The bill adds exceptions for: • A
petty offense for theft, criminal mischief, or arson, or a comparable municipal offense, or a
municipal offense involving threats of violence, injury, or property damage, if the
defendant has previously failed to appear in court 2 or more times in the present case;
and • Any other petty offense, traffic offense, or a comparable municipal offense or a
municipal offense for which there is no comparable state offense, if the defendant has
previously failed to appear for a court proceeding 3 or more times in the present case and
has another pending charge for the same offense in the same jurisdiction. The bill applies
the exceptions involving previous instances of a defendant's failure to appear for a court
proceeding only when, prior to issuing a warrant for the arrest of the defendant for the
previous failure to appear, the court conducted a search to determine whether the
defendant was being held in a correctional facility or county jail, and at the time of the
previous failure to appear, the court had certain processes in place governing failures to
appear.
HB25-
1295
Food Truck Operations The bill creates a reciprocal licensing and permitting system for the operation of food
trucks within the jurisdictions of local governments in the state. The bill requires a local
government to grant the owner or operator of a food truck a reciprocal business license,
reciprocal health department permit, and reciprocal fire safety permit (reciprocal license
and reciprocal permits), which reciprocal license and reciprocal permits allow the owner or
operator of a food truck to operate within the local government's jurisdiction, if the owner
or operator of a food truck: • Has an active business license from another local
government; • Has an active health department permit from another local government; •
Has an active fire safety permit from another local government; and • Pays applicable
application and licensing and permitting fees. A local government must review an
application for the reciprocal license and reciprocal permits within 14 calendar days after
receiving the application and decide whether to approve or deny the application. The local
government may deny the application under certain circumstances. The local government
Fort Collins Tracking Bills – March 18, 2025
4
may collect an application fee and charge reduced licensing and permitting fees for
granting the reciprocal license and reciprocal permits. The bill prohibits the governing
body of a local government from adopting an ordinance, resolution, regulation, zoning
code, or other code that: • Prohibits the operation of a food truck in a zone in which a
food establishment is considered a permitted or conditional use; • Restricts the total
number of days a food truck may be operated within the local government's jurisdiction
during a calendar year; or • Prohibits the operation of a food truck within a certain
distance of another food establishment, unless the specified distance is less than 50 feet.
HB25-
1300
Workers' Compensation
Benefits Proof of
Entitlement
In a dispute in a workers' compensation claim, current law requires a claimant to prove, by
a preponderance of the evidence, the claimant's entitlement to medical benefits. When the
dispute concerns whether the medical treatment recommended by an authorized treating
physician is reasonable, necessary, and related to the claimant's injury, the bill shifts the
burden of proof from the claimant to the claimant's employer or the employer's workers'
compensation insurer. The bill provides injured workers control over the selection of their
primary treating physician in workers' compensation cases, allowing them to choose from
any level I or level II accredited physician through the division of workers' compensation.
The bill creates the mechanism by which an injured worker may select the treating
physician and requires the employer or insurer to choose the physician when an injured
worker is unable or unwilling to select the treating physician.
SB25-161 Transit Reform The bill makes the following changes for the purpose of improving the performance of the
regional transportation district (RTD): • Authorizes RTD to enter into a service
partnership agreement with a local government, institution of higher education, or other
entity to expand services within RTD's service territory ( section 2 of the bill); • Requires
RTD, in discharging its responsibilities, to ( section 3 ): • Align with statewide greenhouse
gas reduction targets, Transportation Vision 2035 goals, and mode choice targets as will
be developed according to Senate Bill 25-030, if enacted; • Create worker retention
goals; • Adhere to the requirements of General Directive 24-1: Required Actions
Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers, issued on September 25, 2024, by the federal
transit administration of the United States department of transportation; and • Develop
performance measures to evaluate its progress in aligning with state climate goals and
achieving its worker retention goals; • Requires RTD to create a 10-year strategic plan no
later than April 10, 2026, and a comprehensive operational analysis no less frequently
than every 5 years beginning in 2026, and to report quarterly to the RTD board of directors
regarding the plan and analysis ( section 4 ); • Requires RTD, in conjunction with the
creation of its 10-year strategic plan, to study or contract with a third party to study and
identify opportunities to increase funding to achieve the goals, measures, and targets
identified in the 10-year strategic plan ( section 4 ); • Requires RTD to create, maintain,
Fort Collins Tracking Bills – March 18, 2025
5
and publish on its website information and dashboards related to capital projects, ridership
and service information, planned service changes, workforce statistics, and transit safety (
section 4 ); • Requires RTD to update its service policies and standards, its equitable
transit-oriented development policy, and its service buy-up policy, to create specific
communication protocols, and to implement parking and transportation demand
management strategies and policies ( section 4 ); • Requires RTD to periodically notify
the Denver regional council of governments (DRCOG) and the department of local affairs
of any known infrastructure gaps that exist within specific areas of a transit-oriented
community within RTD's service territory ( section 4 ); • Requires RTD to modernize and
advertise its EcoPass and low-income fare discount programs ( section 4 ); • Adds 2
nonvoting ex officio members to the RTD board of directors (RTD board), to be appointed
by the executive director of the department of transportation and by DRCOG ( sections 6
and 8 ); and • Prohibits write-in candidates for the RTD board ( section 7 ). The bill also
requires other entities to analyze opportunities for the improvement of transit services
by: • Requiring the transportation commission to develop and publish best practices and
technical assistance materials concerning the creation of regional transportation
authorities to increase funding for transit and to provide additional transit services within
the state ( section 5 ); and • Creating an RTD accountability committee within the
Colorado energy office that consists of 13 appointed members. On or before January 30,
2026, the commission is required to provide recommendations to the transportation
committees of the general assembly concerning the governance structure and
compensation of the RTD board and executive leadership, the representation of local
governments and state agencies within RTD, and RTD's workforce retention ( section 9 ).
SB25-182 Embodied Carbon
Reduction
Embodied carbon is the carbon associated with greenhouse gas emissions arising from
the production, construction, use, and end-of-life of products or systems used in the
construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. An embodied carbon
improvement is a real property installation or modification that is completed in a manner
that generates relatively less embodied carbon. Section 1 of the bill adds embodied
carbon improvements to the list of new energy improvements that are eligible for property-
assessed clean energy financing provided by the Colorado new energy improvement
district. Section 2 modifies the industrial clean energy tax credit so that embodied carbon
improvements are greenhouse gas emissions reduction improvements.
City Manager’s Office
City Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: March 27, 2025
TO: Legislative Review Committee
FROM: Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board
RE: Legally Protected Health-Care Activity Protections and Semiautomatic Firearms
& Rapid-Fire Devices
SB25-129, Legally Protected Health-Care Activity Protections
The Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board (WGEAB) urges the LRC to support SB25-
129, Legally Protected Health-Care Activity Protections.
In 2024, Colorado voters overwhelmingly voted to protect abortion in the state constitution. This
bill “clarifies that requirements for out-of-state telehealth providers do not alter or limit the rights
and protections afforded to a person concerning a legally protected health-care activity”
including, clarification for out-of-state telehealth providers, prescription labeling confidentiality,
subpoena request affirmation, restrictions on cooperation with out-of-state inquires, private right
of action, limitation on arrests for out-of-state charges, prohibition on use of public resources,
and Attorney General’s enforcement Authority. Fort Collins House Representatives Boesnecker
and Zokaie, and Senator Kipp are all Sponsors of the bill.
The 2025-2026 Legislative Policy Agenda, includes a section on Health Care:
The City recognizes that the rapidly increasing cost of health care and health insurance is a
barrier to real wage growth, equitable health outcomes, and economic gains among many Fort
Collins residents. The City further recognizes that employer-sponsored health care and varying
state regulations that are not consistent across the United States have resulted in the system
we have today.
Therefore, the City:
1. Supports health care policy that provides single-payer, not-for-profit health care to all
residents.
2. Supports the portability of health care plans across employers and state lines.
3. Supports health care policies that end the practice in the United States of employers
being the primary source of health insurance for residents.
4. Supports policies that allocate costs to individuals and their families proportional to their
ability to pay.
Additionally, in 2022, the Fort Collins City Council passed Resolution 2022-070 Expressing the
Council's Support for Protection of Reproductive Rights and Concern about the Threat to Them
Presented by Recent U.S. Supreme Court Action. The resolution also states:
WHEREAS, the Council further intends to take such steps as may be appropriate to protect the
Colorado law preserving abortion access in Colorado and support legislative actions advancing
the rights of women and girls in Colorado and upholding all persons' rights to privacy, dignity
and self-determination.
WAGEAB’s role is to enhance the status of and opportunities for all women, transgender, and
gender non-binary and gender non-conforming persons (all genders) in the City. Our duties
include:
“To review proposed legislation, policy changes or other governmental action at the federal,
state or local level that would enhance or otherwise affect all genders in the City and make
recommendations to the City Council regarding the same.”
Because of the council’s existing endorsement of policies that broadly support healthcare (LPA),
protect reproductive rights and healthcare, and commitment to protect Colorado law preserving
abortion access (Res. 2022-070), WGEAB urges the Legislative Review Committee to support
SB25-129.
SB25-003, Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices
Additionally, the Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board (WGEAB) urges the LRC to
support SB25-003 Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices.
The bill, SB25-003 ‘prohibits knowingly manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or
purchasing a specified semi-automatic firearm’.
Other requirements in the bill are; a basic firearms safety course and an extended firearms
safety course. To enroll in a basic or extended firearms safety course, a person must hold a
valid firearms safety course eligibility card (firearms course card) issued by a sheriff. The bill
also sets the requirements for a firearms course card, which include completing a fingerprint-
based criminal history record check to determine that the applicant satisfies the criteria to
receive a firearms course card.
In Fort Collins, in 2024 46.1% of victims of violent crimes using firearms were female.
While the deadly intersection of guns and intimate partner violence affects all women, it has a
disproportionate impact on Black and American Indian / Alaska Native women as well as
pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Hate crimes affect all genders. Data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation shows Colorado
may be becoming more hostile for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The number of
LGBTQ+ victims of hate crimes has grown 475%, from 16 in 2017 to 92 in 2021.
WAGEAB has evaluated the Colorado State bill, SB25-003, and recommends the Legislative
Review Committee support the passage of this legislation.
The 2024 Legislative Policy Agenda neither included a position of favorability or unfavorability in
the context of personal safety from violent crime and firearm safety nor was SB25-003 included
in the most recent legislative review document released by the Legislative Review Committee.
WGEAB recommends the City Council establish its position on violent crime and firearm safety
for the next Legislative Policy Review. Additionally, WGEAB recommends the Legislative
Review Committee include in their annual review all bills related to firearm safety, community
safety in the context of violent crime, and bills relating to domestic and sexual violence towards
women, girls, transgender, and gender non-binary and gender non-conforming persons (all
genders).
Thank you,
Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board