More than 200 new Colorado laws will take effect on Aug. 7.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the more interesting and significant pieces of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis and set to hit the books in just a few days.
HB24-1340: Colorado Promise Act
This law creates a refundable income tax credit to cover the cost of two years of higher education for every family making under $90,000. SB24-104 will seamlessly connect apprenticeship programs with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and high school and career technical education (CTE) programs.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, and Sens. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, and Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada
HB24-1175: Local Governments Rights to Property for Affordable Housing
The law creates a right of first refusal and a right of first offer for local governments to make an offer to purchase certain types of multifamily rental properties. Both the right of first refusal and the right of first offer terminate on Dec. 31, 2029, and a local government is not entitled to exercise either right after that date unless the local government exercised the right before Dec. 31, 2029, and the process has not concluded.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Andre Boesenecker, D-Larimer, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, and Sens. Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Sonja Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder.
Read more about the bill here .
HB24-1103: Prohibiting Term ‘Excited Delirium’
This law prohibits the inclusion of the term "excited delirium" in training programs for law enforcement personnel, emergency medical service providers, or other first responders. However, the term may be referenced in emergency medical service training solely to teach its historical context. Furthermore, peace officers are barred from using "excited delirium" to describe individuals in incident reports. Coroners or other authorized officials are also prohibited from listing "excited delirium" as a cause of death on death certificates.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Sens. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora.
Read more about the bill here .
HB24-1266: Local Government Utility Relocation in Right-of-Way
This new law establishes a process by which local governments and investor-owned utility companies with more than 250,000 customers may coordinate on utility relocation work that is necessitated by a road improvement project. A road improvement project does not include a project in a roadway under the control of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) unless the construction is performed by or under the direction of the local government pursuant to an agreement with CDOT. Under the process established by the act, a local government is required to notify any affected utility company of the details of a road improvement project before beginning the project and in the event of a change in the scope of the proposed project.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, and Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock and Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada.
HB24-1372: Regulating Law Enforcement Use of Prone Restraint
Current law subjects peace officers who use unlawful force or fail to intervene in the unlawful use of force to criminal and civil penalties, and disciplinary measures through the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (P.O.S.T. board). The act defines prone restraint as a use of force.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Sens. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver.
SB24-005: Prohibit Landscaping Practices for Water Conservation
On and after Jan. 1, 2026, this law prohibits local governments from allowing the installation, planting, or placement of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species on commercial, institutional, or industrial property, common interest community property, or a street right-of-way, parking lot, median, or transportation corridor. It also prohibits the Department of Personnel from allowing the installation, planting, or placement of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species as part of a project for the construction or renovation of a state facility, which project design commences on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Artificial turf on athletic fields of play is exempted from the prohibitions.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Karen McCormick, D-Boulder, and Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Sens. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa.
Read more about the bill here .
SB24-066: Firearms Merchant Category Code
The law requires credit card companies to establish a new code to categorize firearms and ammunition sales. A credit card processing company must assign the code to each firearms merchant to which the processor provides services.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Meg Froelich, D-Denver, and Sen. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial.
Read more about the bill here .
SB24-079: Motorcycle Lane Filtering & Passing
This law authorizes drivers of two-wheeled motorcycles to overtake or pass another motor vehicle in the same lane when traffic is stopped, the road has lanes wide enough for safe passing, the motorcycle is moving at 15 miles per hour or less, and conditions allow for prudent operation of the motorcycle. This authorization is set to be repealed on Sept. 1, 2027. Before the repeal, the Colorado Department of Transportation will analyze safety data related to the act and submit a report to the General Assembly.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, and Sens. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Jim Smallwood, R-Parker.
SB24-171: Restoration of Wolverines
The act authorizes the Division of Parks and Wildlife (division) to reintroduce the North American wolverine to the state and creates certain requirements for that reintroduction. The law also requires the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules for compensating livestock owners for losses caused by the wolverine.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, and Sens. Perry Will, R-New Castle, and Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco.
Read more about the bill here .
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