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

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.