Colorado Legislative Snapshot

Upcoming Energy, Environment and Climate Legislation Supported by CEA

Colorado State 2020 Legislative Calendar:  https://leg.colorado.gov/session-schedule

SB20-055 (Incentivize Development Recycling End Markets)

Next Hearing: Friday 3/13 (8 am)

Directs the pollution prevention advisory board (board) within the department of public health and environment (department) to recommend to the department a structure and governing guidance for a recycling market development center to support the development of end-market businesses within the state. Allows the board to use the recycling resources economic opportunity fund and the front range waste diversion cash fund to reimburse eligible recycling businesses for locally assessed personal property taxes paid in the current tax year in this state on personal property. Requires the department, on and after October 1, 2020, to administer a statewide campaign to educate Colorado residents concerning recycling.

HB20-1155 (Higher Efficiency New Construction Residence)

Next Hearing: N/A (Sent to Governor )
Requires home builders to offer new home buyers all of the following
 (instead of just one, under current law): solar panel system or solar thermal system, the home is pre-wired or pre-plumbed for those systems, a chase or conduit to wire or plumb the home for these systems in the future. Requires home builders to also offer one of the following: an EV charging system; upgrades of wiring to accommodate future installation of an EV charging system; or a 208- to 240-volt alternating current plug-in located in a place accessible to a motor vehicle parking area. Requires home builders to offer electric heating options.

HB20-1162 (Prohibit Food Establishments' Use of Polystyrene)

Next Hearing: Friday 3/13 (8 am)Effective January 1, 2022, the bill prohibits a retail food establishment from distributing an expanded polystyrene product for use as a container for ready- to-eat food in this state. The executive director of the department of public health and environment or the executive director's designee may, through the attorney general, seek injunctive relief against a retail food establishment that violates the prohibition.

HB20-1059 (Valuation of Energy Storage Equipment)

Next Hearing: Monday 3/16 (1:30 pm)Requires energy storage equipment owned or operated by utilities to be assessed similarly to renewable energy equipment beginning January 1, 2020.

HB20-1163 (Management of Single-use Products)

Next Hearing: TBDThe bill prohibits stores and retail food establishments, on and after July 1, 2021, from providing single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use plastic stirrers, single-use plastic straws, and expanded polystyrene food service products (collectively "single-use products") to customers at the point of sale. The prohibition does not apply to inventory purchased before July 1, 2021, and used on or before December 31, 2021. A store or retail food establishment, on or after July 1, 2021, may furnish recyclable paper carryout bags to a customer at a charge of at least 10 cents per customer, which amount the store or establishment may retain in full, unless a local government's ordinance or resolution prohibits the store or establishment from retaining the full charge. A local government, on or after July 1, 2021, is preempted from enacting an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that is less stringent than the statewide prohibition.

HB20-1064 (PUC Study of Community Choice Energy)

Next Hearing: TBD

Concerns investigations by the Public Utilities Commission to study and evaluate the implications of allowing community choice of wholesale electric supply in Colorado through the vehicle of community choice energy authorities. Assigned to Energy & Environment + Appropriations.

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The Clean Energy Conversation Is “Big At The Capitol,” And At Home In Boulder, Colorado