[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6050014,"mediaKeyId","3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b","parentId",3506307,"title","Committee advances measure to extend WUI code board timeline, allow cooperative agreements","audioSeconds",2277,"startMs",2863000,"endMs",586000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b&start=2863&end=586","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b/thumbnail_2863000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6050014/Colorado/Committee-advances-measure-to-extend-WUI-code-board-timeline-allow-cooperative-agreements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050014-85e0bed07066680bc489452106a41fd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830455&Signature=kVKMfEmenW8~B~FKEIVzJhJ51B3fq-3ZIb2dKXR6OC8jHO6BgzgCS~EKMipMLRk-JMH2WSSfNZtQphOPRozKPzmjhMzpZXivaGFBe0iRxDDWxos93yS85Kl~XDqfMaU7Z95syvn8UZbhUxDRi-whYfQYK~YM~-vRyeJ8ABawfKUk6QiQ3WGyIaIqUGRXMwHRpo-aJimkNHYB3JimewDwRVq3oe-7x-hiUY3BlvLVtpLspcNveHPfVg9LT2xKezWmDZjrkkuDcNKuYzACtZ~cbkPQhZnkjb-sF6t2wzx817F8qY7hLnEVOIloLeZnpUAQYwSbVzyj2kZaIjdYtgkwjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado State Legislature","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","The House Energy & Environment Committee on May 20 moved Senate Bill 142 forward with a favorable recommendation, extending deadlines for the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board by nine months and allowing the board or local governments to enter cooperative agreements to implement and enforce wildland-urban interface (WUI) codes.

Vice Chair Rodolfo Velasco, the bill sponsor in the House, told the committee the change responds to requests from county commissioners and makes it easier for jurisdictions to implement the board’s recommendations. “This bill extends at the 9 months to allow them to do, to implement the recommendations,” Velasco said during her presentation.

Supporters said the extra time and the ability to contract with other governing bodies or third parties will help smaller counties meet new WUI code standards. Richard Orp, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, said many smaller counties “do not have the ability to comply right now,” and that extra time — and options to form partnerships — is “very, very important.” Jefferson County Commissioner Lehi Dahlkemper, speaking on behalf of Jefferson County and Counties and Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT), said the extension will allow counties to cross-check new WUI provisions with existing county codes and identify gaps before adopting new standards.

Delta County Commissioner Wendell (identified in testimony as a Delta County commissioner) warned of practical hurdles and urged a longer delay for some rural counties. He said 15 Colorado counties currently lack building departments and that some residents opposed adopting building codes at this time. He recommended extending implementation to 2028 for counties without local capacity and creating a staggered rollout so high-risk mountain communities implement first and lower-capacity areas can follow and learn best practices.

Committee debate was short. With no amendments offered, Vice Chair Velasco moved the bill to the committee of the whole with a favorable recommendation; Representative Wilford seconded. The roll call recorded a 7-to-4 vote in favor and the measure advanced.

Discussion vs. decision: committee members took testimony and assessed the sponsor’s amendment; no substantive amendments were offered. The formal action was the committee’s favorable recommendation and vote to advance the bill.

Key clarifications from testimony included: the bill adds nine months to the board’s statutory timeline; it explicitly allows cooperative agreements between counties and fire protection districts or third parties for implementation and enforcement; and some county officials requested a longer delay and a staggered implementation schedule to avoid overburdening volunteer fire districts and counties without building departments.

The committee record shows the bill will proceed to the next committee stage for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Energy & Environment [May 01, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","The House Energy & Environment Committee moved Senate Bill 142 forward, extending the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board timeline by nine months and allowing cooperative agreements to implement and enforce wildland-urban interface codes.","taxTitle","Energy & Environment, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Colorado","taxId",43278,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6050006,"Committee approves consumer-protection package for residential solar sales, including disclosures and warranty requirements",1771,2889000,4660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b&start=2889&end=4660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b/thumbnail_2889000.jpg","/articles/6050006/Colorado/Committee-approves-consumer-protection-package-for-residential-solar-sales-including-disclosures-and-warranty-requirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050006-91b0426dacabe3799b72fbf54e7f9c25/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830454&Signature=Jej1g7KYjDJErEEO8RWbwD3rXZ0LkqJFM~rRxbiwFJtWBehkNqVRDN3cHcw-C3R51qzca16~q~dt3Uf9sRp9BvZ6Qr7rcVoxOwS26DJisEHmN~I6gKWbMEBt-ItXCLltGCH0EzFAr5Stwpc-s4tAazNZpoQyVvbVuLzq2sKIiqx-i5l0OfoTJ6XEfUEBvxdN4~E9KajZQ6JLlJ3ASmXjZx6fN~eMmb~FVKaddGRGr28~jwteswC8CikGBeZ3C6yXyMt3pv-sRHAFKGFTAaZaqa~zgw0Hjjk9hR66kMNmYi1Ai3QIA0gwOcjn14x0jFLwnzBwU3o7mfXY0QatPNYioA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Energy & Environment Committee voted May 20 to forward Senate Bill 299 with a favorable recommendation after extensive stakeholder testimony and a technical amendment removing an unintended contract-page limit.

Representative Brown, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal seeks to protect consumers buying residential solar by requiring standardized disclosures, clearer contract terms and limits on deceptive marketing, such as unauthorized use of utility logos. “This bill seeks to provide important consumer protection guardrails without creating any new regulatory burden on businesses,” Brown said.

The bill requires solar sales companies to provide standardized information to prospective customers — including contact details, warranty explanations and itemized disclosures about expected production and projected utility-bill impacts — and imposes a rescission period so buyers can cancel a contract within a short window. The sponsors said the rescission period and required disclosures aim to curb high-pressure door-to-door sales practices and give homeowners time to compare offers.

Industry and consumer groups who spoke in favor said the measure protects buyers and reputable installers. Casey Becker of the Colorado Solar and Storage Association said the association backed the measure as a way to set consistent expectations and curb misleading sales tactics. Jason Sharp of Namaste Solar said the bill “protects small businesses” by setting consumer expectations and creating a “cooling off” period for large purchases.

Stakeholders pressed sponsors on several specifics. Committee members asked how lenders and third-party financing fit into the disclosure regime; sponsors and industry witnesses said the bill applies to the party that is a signatory to the sales or financing agreement and that lenders who are parties to an agreement must provide financing terms. The committee also debated language on language access: the bill requires that sales presentations and a consumer disclosure form be offered in Spanish when requested, and permits a consumer to request presentations in other languages.

Two amendments were considered. The committee adopted L005, a technical change that removed an unintended four-page limit on contracts. A proposed amendment (L008) that would have required certified notification by mail or electronic means to affected parties was rejected by the committee; sponsors argued it would create a costly, burdensome process and could trigger a fiscal note.

The committee then voted 9–4 to advance the bill with the adopted technical amendment. Sponsors said they intend to continue outreach to the industry and to community groups so businesses and consumers understand the new statutory requirements before implementation.","Senate Bill 299 would set standardized disclosures, require sales materials and certain warranties, bar unauthorized use of utility logos and require Spanish-language materials on request; committee adopted a technical amendment and rejected a mandatory-notice amendment before approving the bill 9–4.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6050010,"Committee advances prescribed-fire bill that creates claims fund, reciprocity and securitization language",2227,683000,2910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b&start=683&end=2910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3506307-18b6678c4db59997134c6c093530218b/thumbnail_683000.jpg","/articles/6050010/Colorado/Committee-advances-prescribed-fire-bill-that-creates-claims-fund-reciprocity-and-securitization-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050010-79e0d468fa5e2a69b4b5b8e832e4d3b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830454&Signature=hy9wL2k0smFoiWwUdoK06uSGx1T-tQSb4hx5fpZaSCHimjLdV6dVc8J2Rls2oVP0MAvC-y~7n4gl6e1IEq8vF5dfJYxxdo8QeOqjXCB9o7cJucWklTmZBmKQZ3iAwQ5CPAz27nj~GU33FnorRon~a4z8p8CA4raRxBX1iua3jCd5jPKiRFz1mOftDaECtOCWFZvEeFYYF5l8wdz5qwhvt6sEGEIQsHUTE~mn47dx0HiN6i~yYLiW-OtKdqV97OFhJ4x~uP58YJ4OX6UjntTqsbZWJMpt7JnzpK7GDNOI~VX1boYeMkj0V96Z3FGPzuNfODtXztjt0CLH~1xuzJ2YZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy & Environment Committee voted May 20 to advance Senate Bill 007 to the appropriations committee after testimony from firefighting, conservation and state fire officials describing the measure as a tool to reduce liability barriers that currently deter prescribed burns.

Representative Melissa Weinberg, the bill sponsor, described prescribed fire as “one of the most effective tools we have to reduce hazardous fuel loads, restore forest health and protect lives and property,” and said the measure creates “a prescribed fire claims cash fund, which allows limited reimbursement for damages in cases where burns were conducted properly and within state regulations.” She also said the bill expands certification access by including reciprocity for trained professionals from other states.

Witnesses from conservation and fire organizations supported the proposal. Bridal Witt of Western Resource Advocates said similar funds in California, Oregon and Washington have encouraged prescribed burning and helped spur private insurance options for burners. Von Jones of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control said the bill would reduce a major barrier to implementing prescribed burns — liability exposure — and noted the bill aligns with the Colorado Fire Commission’s multi-year work on prescribed fire strategy.

Officials acknowledged funding limits in the current fiscal note. Committee questions noted a revised fiscal estimate showing a $186,000 figure, down from earlier requests near $1,000,000, and that the department does not plan to staff the program until the claims fund is actually funded. Weinberg and other witnesses said the claims program would not begin until an appropriation, donation or grant funded the cash fund, and that reciprocity is a central feature to expand the trained workforce.

Witnesses also noted the bill includes an amendment clarifying that securitization in Title 40 may be used by utilities, with Public Utilities Commission approval, to finance wildfire mitigation plans. Bridal Witt said securitization could help avoid severe rate increases and reduce costs for ratepayers when regulated utilities pursue wildfire mitigation financing.

The committee then voted to send the bill to appropriations with a favorable recommendation; the roll call reflected a 10–3 approval. The committee’s action was procedural — advancing the bill — while implementation details, appropriations and program design remain contingent on future funding decisions.

Key clarifications from testimony: the initial fiscal note shows insufficient funding to stand up staff or claims payments immediately; the bill ties any program start to the availability of fund dollars; the bill’s claims cap is structured as a maximum percentage of the fund (the committee heard descriptions of a 10%-per-claim limit in the current draft so single claims do not exhaust the fund); and the sponsors noted other states’ programs set higher per-claim caps (examples cited: $2,000,000 in California, Oregon, Washington).","Senate Bill 007 would create a prescribed-fire claims cash fund to reimburse limited damages from properly conducted burns, allow certification reciprocity for burners trained in other states and clarify securitization authority for utilities; committee sent the bill to appropriations 10–3.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances measure to extend WUI code board timeline, allow cooperative agreements

Committee approves consumer-protection package for residential solar sales, including disclosures and warranty requirements

Committee advances prescribed-fire bill that creates claims fund, reciprocity and securitization language