With the end of the session in sight, lawmakers are introducing the final bills of the session.
Among the bills introduced this past week is a bill that would expand access to doula services, one that would tweak the regulatory framework for natural medicine, one that allows a public higher education institution to pay student-athletes for using their name or likeness and one that would require health benefit plans and pharmacy management firms to cover or reimburse one-year contraception.
Also introduced this week was a bill that would make various changes to the Colorado Open Records Act, including making all writings made, maintained or kept by the state, including any office of the state, records covered by CORA. It would also change the definition of “electronic mail” to “electronic communication” to encompass all forms of electronic communication.
Also introduced this week was a bill that would make the possession, transportation or sale of a firearm with no serial number illegal on and after Jan. 1, 2024.
Bill Number: HB23-1296
Title: Create Task Force To Study Rights Of Persons With Disabilities
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: D. Ortiz, L. Herod
Summary: The bill would create a task force on the rights of Coloradans with disabilities in the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The task force would create at least four subcommittees to study and make recommendations on specific issues related to persons with disabilities.
Bill Number: HB23-1298
Title: Earlier Funding For Middle School Lead Testing
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: E. Sirota, S. Bird, J. Bridges, B. Kirkmeyer
Summary: In 2022, the general assembly passed House Bill 22-1358, which requires each facility serving pre-K-8th grade to test its drinking water sources for the presence of lead on or before May 31. The act also created a fund to facilitate testing and required the Department of Public Health and Environment to reimburse eligible schools by March 15, 2024. The bill would change that date to June 1, 2023.
Bill Number: HB23-1299
Title: Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: S. Bird, R. Bockenfeld, J. Bridges, B. Kirkmeyer
Summary: The bill would specify that the statewide business and entrepreneurship training and grant program for justice-system-involved persons will be repealed Sept. 1, 2024. The bill would also allow the Department of Local Affairs to expend the transferred money for the targeted crime reduction grant program and the grant program for justice-system-involved persons. The bill would also clarify the initiative repeals Sept. 1, 2027, and the Department of Regulatory Agencies will review it before it’s repealed.
Bill Number: HB23-1302
Title: Housing Accessibility
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: D. Ortiz, S. Lieder
Summary: Among other provisions, the bill would modify the accessible housing standards and specifications exception process for housing. A governmental unit may only grant exceptions to any particular accessible housing standard or specification when it determines the standard or specification is technically infeasible and would create an undue hardship.
Bill Number: SB23-288
Title: Coverage For Doula Services
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: R. Fields, J. Buckner, R. English, J. Joseph
Summary: No later than Sept. 1, the bill would require the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to initiate a stakeholder process to promote the expansion and utilization of doula services for pregnant and postpartum medicaid recipients. Among other provisions, the bill would also require the state department to work with a maternity advisory committee to create a report detailing the findings and recommendations from the stakeholder process and submit the report to the general assembly during the state department’s State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive and Transparent Government Act hearing.
Bill Number: SB23-290
Title: Natural Medicine Regulation And Legalization
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: S. Fenberg
Summary: The bill would amend the regulatory framework for natural medicine and natural medicine products. It would require the director of the Division of Professions and Occupations to regulate facilitators and the practice of regulation, including issuing licenses for facilitators and promoting regulatory rules, among other duties. The bill would also create an advisory board that would examine issues related to natural medicine and natural medicine products, and make recommendations for regulators.
Bill Number: SB23-293
Title: Use Of Student-Athlete’s Name, Image Or Likeness
Introduced: April 19
Sponsors: J. Coleman, R. Fields, L. Herod
Summary: Among other requirements, the bill would allow a public or private higher education institution to enable opportunities for a student-athlete to earn compensation for the use of their name, image or likeness so long as the institution gets their consent first.
Bill Number: SB23-286
Title: Access To Government Records
Introduced: April 18
Sponsors: C. Hansen, M. Snyder, M. Soper
Summary: The bill would make various changes to the Colorado Open Records Act and record retention requirements for state agencies. Among other provisions, the bill would modify the definition of “public records” in CORA to clarify writings made, maintained or kept by the state, including any office of the state, are records. It would also change the definition of “electronic mail” to “electronic communication” to encompass all forms of electronic communication.
Bill Number: SB23-284
Title: Ensure 12-Month Contraception Coverage
Introduced: April 15
Sponsors: J. Bridges, J. Danielson, I. Jodeh
Summary: The bill would require health benefit plans or pharmacy management firms that administer or manage contraception coverage to provide coverage and reimbursement for one-year contraception, alongside other requirements and provisions.
Bill Number: HB23-1292
Title: Enhanced Sentencing Colorado Commission On Criminal And Juvenile Justice Recommendations
Introduced: April 14
Sponsors: M. Weissman, M. Soper, J. Gonzales
Summary: Current law requires courts to impose a consecutive sentence on a person convicted of two or more separate crimes of violence arising out of the same incident. The bill would allow a person to petition the court for a modification of the consecutive sentences at least two calendar years, but no more than five calendar years, after the final judgment is entered. The court could then modify the terms of the sentence.
Bill Number: HB23-1293
Title: Felony Sentencing Commission Recommendations
Introduced: April 14
Sponsors: M. Weissman, M. Soper, J. Gonzales
Summary: The bill would reclassify various felony criminal offenses to a different felony or misdemeanor level. The bill would also change the elements of some crimes to align with the new sentencing classifications.
Bill Number: SB23-279
Title: Unserialized Firearms And Firearm Components
Introduced: April 13
Sponsors: R. Fields, C. Hansen, A. Boesenecker, J. Joseph
Summary: The bill would prohibit knowingly possessing, transporting or selling an unfinished firearm frame or receiver, unless it’s been imprinted with a serial number on and after Jan. 1, 2024.
Law Week’s legislative tracking is done through State Bill, a product of our publisher, Circuit Media.