House committee backs fallen firefighter license plate; $25 minimum donation added

The House Finance Committee voted to send House Bill 1103 — a measure to create a Colorado "fallen firefighter" specialty license plate — to the Committee on Appropriations after sponsors and a long panel of witnesses described the plate's symbolic and fundraising roles.

Sponsor Representative Marie Richardson and co-sponsor Representative Alex Velasco said the plate honors volunteer and career firefighters who died in the line of duty and provides families a way to display that service without losing the firefighter plate when a member dies or is no longer active.

"It establishes a fallen firefighter license plate available to the family of the firefighter lost in the line of duty and other Coloradans that desire to honor their their brave memories," Representative Richardson said. Representative Velasco, a wildland firefighter herself, described the bill as a way to support families and noted the state’s fallen-firefighter memorial and the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation's work.

Multiple witnesses — including John Bales, president of the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation; Tony Helfer, whose father was a fallen Denver firefighter; Mickey Stallings and family members of Darcy Stallings; and other surviving spouses and family members — told the committee the plate would recognize sacrifice and help direct donations to survivor services.

Nina Forbes of the Legislative Council staff summarized fiscal impacts in response to committee questions: about $6,500 of the initial appropriation would cover programming costs and roughly $17,700 would cover plate and tab production, an amount that depends on how many plates are ordered and the cash fund revenue collected. Sponsors offered and the committee adopted amendment L001, adding a $25 minimum donation to the nonprofit designated to receive proceeds in addition to the $50 administrative fee that goes to the Department of Revenue.

Representative Brooks questioned revenue estimates and appropriations, noting specialty plates sometimes raise less than projected; Representative Velasco cited examples of other specialty plates that exceeded estimates. Representative Graf (seconded by Richardson) and others asked whether the plate would confer any active-firefighter privileges; Representative Richardson said it would not — the plate is a memorial and would not grant operational access.

Representatives expressed strong support after extended emotional testimony, though Representative Marshall said he opposed specialty plates generally and voted no. The committee approved the bill as amended and sent it to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation, 11–1.

Next steps: The bill goes to the House Committee on Appropriations where the fiscal note and appropriation will be considered.