ColoradoHB26-12522026 Regular SessionHouse

Updates to State Emergency Response Departments & Divisions

Sponsored By: Janice Marchman (Democratic), John Carson (Republican), Mary Bradfield (Republican), Tisha Mauro (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

State Government

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

More support for emergency communications volunteers

The Auxiliary Communications Unit can authorize members as qualified volunteers with specified legal protections and benefits. These apply during state emergency division activities, even without a disaster. Two statutory protections apply during training, drills, or classes only with the volunteer’s employer’s express prior consent and approval. The communications director may repay necessary travel and other reasonable costs incurred while carrying out unit duties. The unit can also use state vehicles during division activities; the law sets no reimbursement amount.

More privacy for disaster survivors

Survivor information stored in Colorado’s disaster portal is exempt from public records requests. Anyone providing survivors’ personal information can ask in writing to limit sharing to people involved in disaster relief. After that request, emergency agencies cannot share it with others without the information provider’s express written consent.

New aid portal for disaster survivors

Colorado’s emergency office must maintain a portal for survivors applying for approved state disaster individual assistance. It works with the Department of Local Affairs and Colorado Energy Office to connect survivors with state and federal benefits. The portal must provide relevant-language information and support hearing, sight, and physical access needs. Local governments and charitable groups can run coordinated portals. The whole law takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following final legislative adjournment. That means August 12, 2026, for a May 13, 2026, adjournment. A timely referendum petition delays the law until voter approval at the November 2026 election and the governor’s official vote declaration.

Coordinated emergency planning for Colorado communities

Colorado’s emergency division must create and carry out statewide preparedness goals, improve community readiness, and encourage citizen involvement. It must reduce duplicate training, coordinate an online training calendar, and update homeland security and critical infrastructure protection plans. The emergency office leads disaster recovery planning, training, exercises, and integration of the state recovery plan. A new State Recovery Task Force operates when the office director activates it. It identifies recovery staff, combines damage assessments, and recommends a recovery strategy to the Governor’s Disaster Policy Group.

Faster security grant access for nonprofits

Nonprofit security grant applicants generally must first apply for a federal program grant and not be selected. The director can waive that requirement when urgent circumstances make an immediate award necessary for public safety. The law does not set an award amount.

Local safety grants keep broader eligibility

Regions and local agencies no longer lose certain safety grants solely because of failures involving shared emergency communications plans. Covered failures include not submitting a plan on time, not helping create one, or not maintaining one. The change covers grants administered by Colorado’s departments of Local Affairs, Public Safety, and Public Health and Environment.

Updated cybersecurity guidance for Colorado governments

Colorado’s cybersecurity council develops policy guidance and goals and can coordinate with the legislature and courts as appropriate. It can review local government needs and recommend cybersecurity actions to the governor and legislature. The law removes specified state officials and advisory committee representation from council membership. The public safety department’s executive director, rather than the governor, can identify additional appropriate members.

More funding options for emergency communications

Colorado’s public safety department can seek and accept procurement funds for its communications trust fund. It can also accept gifts, grants, donations, bequests, and other contributions from government entities, private groups, and qualifying public-safety nonprofits. The communications office can contract with private entities to use the public safety network or its parts. The law sets no contribution amount or contract price and requires neither contributions nor contracts.

No state radio charges for localities

Municipalities, counties, cities and counties, and special districts cannot be charged user fees for covered state public safety radio systems. The exemption applies to systems provided by Colorado’s Office of Public Safety Communications. Any household savings depend on how local governments use their budgets.

Full-cost billing for communications service users

Colorado’s communications office must bill service and network users for full direct and indirect costs. These costs include materials, equipment depreciation, labor, and administrative overhead. Digital trunked radio users must also pay the full cost of their particular service, including materials, labor, and overhead. Charges and related revenue go to the public safety communications revolving fund. The law sets no specific rates; covered local governments have a separate radio user-charge exemption.

Disaster board replaces daily travel allowance

Colorado Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise board members receive reimbursement for travel expenses from attending official board meetings. This replaces the $50-per-day allowance. Payments follow state fiscal rules and department policy, so amounts depend on qualifying travel costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Bob Marshall
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 203 • No: 35

House vote • 5/7/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 52 • No: 12

House vote • 5/7/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 53 • No: 11

Senate vote • 5/4/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 33 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/28/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1252, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 3/17/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 52 • No: 7

House vote • 3/12/2026