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Senate clears revised building-decarbonization law after contested amendments and division vote
Summary
House Bill 12-69, which changes building decarbonization timelines and creates an implementing enterprise, passed the Senate after multiple amendments and a division vote. Sponsors said changes ease burdens on building owners; opponents warned of costs for downtown and rural property owners.
The Colorado Senate passed House Bill 12-69 on May 2 after extended floor debate, multiple amendments and a division. The bill revises earlier building decarbonization requirements, adjusts compliance deadlines and creates a building-decarbonization enterprise to administer grants and programs for compliance.
Senator Kipp introduced the bill, saying it updates earlier 2021 requirements to reflect economic disruptions from the pandemic and to give the business community more time and support to comply. Supporters described the enterprise mechanism as a way for the buildings subject to the law to benefit from fees paid into the program.
Opponents raised concerns about the bill’s cost to property owners in downtown cores and rural towns with high office vacancy rates. Multiple amendments proposed by senators seeking to reduce the percentage reductions, lower the enterprise fee, or separate administrative fines were offered and rejected. Sponsors said the negotiated deal represented an equilibrium between environmental goals and business realities.
A division was requested and taken on final passage; the chair announced the bill passed after the recorded division. Senate debate included requests for clarifying language, changes to fee levels and adjustments to fines and compliance timelines.
What’s next: The bill creates or authorizes a state-managed enterprise to collect a decarbonization fee and to deliver programs to assist covered buildings. Implementation and program rules will be set by the designated agency.
Sources: Floor debate and division vote recorded during the May 2 Senate session.
