legislatioN
Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice
Concerning the scope of practice for veterinary technicians, and, in connection therewith, directing the state board of veterinary medicine to promulgate rules regarding the supervision of and the delegation of certain tasks to veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists, or other personnel by a licensed veterinarian and establishing a veterinary technician specialist designation.
HB24-1047
Providing Veterinary Services Through Telehealth
The bill allows a licensed veterinarian who has established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to use telehealth to provide veterinary services to clients and patients in Colorado with the consent of the client. A licensed veterinarian may also refer a patient to a veterinary specialist, who may provide veterinary services via telemedicine under the referring veterinarian's veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
HB24-1048
Analysis of Universal Health-Care Payment System
Concerning consideration of a statewide universal health-care payment system, and, in connection therewith, creating an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the Colorado school of public health in conducting an analysis of draft model legislation concerning a statewide universal health-care payment system.
HB24-1075
Professional Endorsement Special Education Teaching
Under current law, a person seeking a teaching endorsement in special education or early childhood special education must complete an approved program and a student teaching practicum through an institution of higher education and pass one or more appropriate content-based exams. The bill requires the department of education to issue an endorsement. To receive the endorsement, the educator must hold a valid teaching license other than an initial license
HB24-1087
Invertebrates & Rare Plants Parks & Wildlife Commission
The bill adds rare plants and invertebrates to the species that may be studied and conserved under the current "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Species Conservation Act", which is renamed the "Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Wildlife and Rare Plant Conservation Act". The department of natural resources is required to include, in the department's SMART Act hearing, information about the investigations conducted under the bill. The general assembly is required to make a general fund appropriation to study invertebrates.
HB24-1117
Ground Ambulance Service Rates & BillinG
For ground ambulance services, the bill: Allows a political subdivision, or an ambulance service providing ambulance services on behalf of the political subdivision, to submit to the division of insurance the established rates for the ambulance services; Establishes reimbursement rates for ambulance services that are out-of-network; and Prohibits an out-of-network ambulance service from billing a covered person any outstanding balance for a covered service not paid for by a carrier, except for any coinsurance, deductible, or copayment amount required to be paid by the covered person.
HB24-1218
State Income Tax Credit for Veterinary Professional
For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2026, but before January 1, 2033, the bill creates a new refundable state income tax credit for a qualified licensed veterinarian and a registered veterinary technician working full-time in an underserved area or under-resourced area and for a buyer of a veterinary practice in an underserved area. The department of agriculture is required to certify tax credits for eligible veterinary professionals and buyers of a veterinary practice in an underserved area in an amount not to exceed, in aggregate, $2 million in any tax year.
HB24-1271
Energy & Carbon Management Regulation
Concerning energy and carbon management regulation in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, broadening the energy and carbon management commission's regulatory authority to include regulation of direct air capture facilities and geologic storage operations.
HB24-1346
Regulate Dredge & Fill Activities in State Waters
The bill requires the water quality control commission in the department of public health and environment to promulgate rules by May 31, 2025, to implement a state dredge and fill discharge authorization program and requires the division of administration in the department to administer and enforce authorizations for activities that will result in the discharge of dredged or fill material into state waters. The rules must focus on avoidance of, minimization of, and compensation for the impacts of dredge and fill activity, include application requirements, and be at least as protective as the guidelines developed pursuant to section 404 (b)(1) of the federal "Clean Water Act".
HB24-1379
Prohibit Landscaping Practices for Water Conservation
On and after January 1, 2026, the bill 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. The bill 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 commences on or after January 1, 2025.
SB24-005
Study Green Infrastructure for Water Quality Management
The bill requires the division of administration in the department of public health and environment, in collaboration with the university of Colorado's Mortenson center in global engineering and resilience and the Colorado water institute located within Colorado state university, to: Conduct a feasibility study of the use of green infrastructure, which refers to nature-based, watershed-scale water quality management solutions that are an alternative to traditional gray infrastructure, which refers to centralized water treatment facilities, and the use of green financing mechanisms for water quality management and submit a report and present to the water resources and agriculture review committee on the progress of the feasibility study and any pilot projects and on any legislative and administrative recommendations to promote the use of green infrastructure and green financing mechanisms for water quality management in the state.
SB24-037
Authorize Conservancy District Water Management
Concerning conservancy districts, and, in connection therewith, authorizing a conservancy district to participate in a plan for augmentation; contract with water users outside the conservancy district for the provision of services; exercise certain powers regarding the control, delivery, use, and distribution of water; establish a water activity enterprise; and sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the use of water or capacity in works by contract.
SB24-038
Prescription Drug Manufacturer Requirements
The bill requires each manufacturer of a prescription drug that is available for purchase in this state to register with and pay a fee to the division of insurance. The bill requires a manufacturer to offer a copayment assistance program to a covered person, either for the entire plan year or for the calendar year, whichever the deductible and out-of-pocket calculation applies to, for as long as the covered person is enrolled in the health benefit plan. A manufacturer that violates the requirements commits an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance.
SB24-077
Regenerative Agriculture Tax Credit
The bill creates a tax incentive program to be administered by the department of agriculture and the department of revenue to encourage local food and beverage retailers to purchase agricultural commodities from local producers practicing regenerative agriculture. For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2024, but before January 1, 2029, qualifying retailers that purchase produce and animal products from qualifying local producers are allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to 25% of the total amount paid for all such purchases by the qualifying retailer in the income tax year in accordance with the requirements and limitations set forth in section 2 of the bill. Section 3 makes a conforming amendment to allow the exchange between the department of agriculture and the department of revenue of otherwise confidential tax information pertinent to an income tax credit claim allowed pursuant to section 2.
SB24-152