Sunset Fire Suppression Programs

Colorado extends fire programs, tightens oversight

Colorado's fire suppression programs continue for 11 more years, moving their scheduled end from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2037. The programs must undergo a review before repeal. Submitted plans and hydraulic calculations must carry a qualified professional's signature and license or certification number. That professional must be a licensed engineer or a certified level-three-or-higher technician in automatic sprinkler design or special hazards layout. They must confirm that the plans meet adopted fire-safety standards and system requirements. The state can provide inspections to counties, municipalities, and special districts by contract or individual job. Those local governments pay the actual inspection costs, and inspectors must meet the administrator's training requirements. A local enforcement head can confirm an applicant's qualifications and notify the administrator, who then certifies the applicant. The administrator can withhold, deny, suspend, or revoke contractor registrations or inspector certifications for negligence or gross negligence, including applications. Contractors cannot sue for payment for work requiring registration unless they prove they were registered when they performed it. Witnesses and people filing disciplinary complaints are protected from civil liability for acts in those roles. The law also replaces gender-specific wording with gender-neutral terms. The effective date is August 12, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., subject to the referendum rule. A referendum petition delays the challenged provisions until voters approve them in November 2026 and the Governor officially declares the vote.