Colorado Senate adopts package of bills on early childhood, mobile‑home protections and plug‑in solar; approves Denim Day resolution

The Colorado Senate on April 1, 2026, approved a suite of bills on third reading that the chamber said will update early childhood services, strengthen protections for mobile home residents’ drinking water and expand access to small‑scale solar devices for renters and households without rooftop panels.

Senator Marchman moved House Bill 12‑59 on third reading and requested permission to offer a substantive third‑reading amendment. "I'd ask for an aye vote," Marchman said as the amendment was introduced and later adopted unanimously. The bill, as amended, passed final passage with a recorded vote of 32 ayes and 3 noes.

Senator Cutter described House Bill 11‑45 as an effort to shore up earlier statute and better protect mobile home residents. "We hear from residents of mobile home parks that their drinking water meets regulatory standards but the water tastes and smells bad," Cutter said, urging support. The Senate adopted the bill after discussion emphasizing resident health and the role of CDPHE in testing and enforcement.

On energy policy, Senator Kitt (co‑sponsor) outlined House Bill 10‑07, saying the measure enables people who can’t install rooftop solar to use plug‑in solar devices such as balcony or portable panels and includes provisions to simplify meter wiring for rooftop systems. "This bill has two things that it does," Kitt said, describing the bill’s intent to expand access to distributed energy resources. The measure was adopted after committee amendments were accepted.

Several bills on the consent calendar were also approved on third reading with recorded tallies. House Bill 10‑24 passed 35‑0; House Bill 10‑02 passed with a recorded tally added to the record showing 30 ayes and 5 noes after several senators asked to be recorded as no on that item. The Senate laid over some remaining calendar items until April 2.

The body also moved into Committee of the Whole for second reading on multiple bills (including House Bill 11‑20 addressing mobile home tax and redemption periods). Committee amendments such as L016 and L017 were offered and adopted to align statutory language and correct technical issues.

Separately, the Senate unanimously adopted House Joint Resolution 10‑25 recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and designating April 29, 2026, as Colorado Denim Day. "Today, we stand together in Denim to say that we believe survivors," Senator Wallace said in support of the resolution.

The Senate recessed until 12:00 p.m.; committee meetings and floor scheduling announcements followed.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 10‑24 — Passed, 35 ayes, 0 noes (consent calendar). - House Bill 10‑02 — Passed; recorded as 30 ayes, 5 noes (several senators recorded no votes). - House Bill 10‑23 — Passed, 35 ayes, 0 noes (consent calendar). - House Bill 12‑59 — Passed as amended, 32 ayes, 3 noes (adopted amendment L009 unanimously prior to final passage). - House Bill 10‑58 — Passed, 33 ayes, 2 noes. - House Bill 11‑20 — Adopted (second reading/amendments adopted in Committee of the Whole). - House Bill 10‑07 — Adopted (amendment L017 adopted in committee). - House Bill 12‑53 — Adopted (adds notice requirements to urban renewal authorities on disconnections). - House Bill 11‑45 — Adopted (mobile home park water quality protections). - House Joint Resolution 10‑25 — Adopted unanimously, 35‑0 (Sexual Assault Awareness Month / Denim Day).

What happens next

Bills amended on second reading were ordered revised and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage; several other bills were laid over to April 2. Committees announced meetings for later that day.