All Roll Calls
Yes: 345 • No: 97
ColoradoHB26-13262026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Sunset Public Utilities Commission
Sponsored By: Jenny Willford (Democratic), Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Monica Duran (Democratic), Robert Rodriguez (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
EnergyTransportation & Motor Vehicles
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
23 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 4 costs, 6 mixed.
Possible price caps for correctional facility calls
The Public Utilities Commission can cap prices and extra charges for in-state debit, prepaid, and collect correctional facility calls. Caps can begin January 1, 2027, and cannot exceed federal limits; the commission can adjust them yearly and enforce them. Facilities and providers must cooperate with service tests, including remote tests. Beginning January 1, 2027, facilities must post commission complaint instructions where visitors can see them. The law sets no dollar cap or guaranteed savings.
Small pipeline operators can get penalty relief
The commission can reduce gas pipeline safety penalties using objective measures and factors set by its rules. The amount payable to the commission must generally be at least $5,000. Operators qualifying as small under commission rules are exempt from that minimum. The law sets no specific reduction amount.
Public voices gain support in utility cases
Starting September 1, 2026, decisions must summarize received public comments, including their volume, views, equity issues, community effects, and consideration. Comments do not become case evidence. An unopposed request to join a case is approved unless denied within 30 days after filing. Approved participants who are not utilities or state or local agencies can receive repayment for reasonable legal, expert, and out-of-pocket costs. They must make a unique, substantial contribution; awards depend on available appropriations and are not guaranteed.
Passengers gain stronger paths to accountability
The law removes a rideshare company's liability shield tied to receiving a written report and failing to respond reasonably. People injured by a motor carrier's failure to follow laws or commission requirements can go directly to court. They no longer need to finish the commission's administrative process first. Neither change guarantees damages or a court outcome.
Rideshare riders get clearer complaint access
Rideshare companies must show riders how to contact the Public Utilities Commission and file a complaint through their apps. The commission must set rules within 18 months after this requirement takes effect. Commission staff handling public complaints must receive training in trauma-informed practices. The law does not guarantee a complaint result.
Utility penalties support affordability and service standards
Intentional public utility violations can bring civil penalties up to $7,500, considering utility size, harm, and efforts to reduce harm. Electric and gas penalties go to the Fixed Utility Fund for affordability programs or outreach for income-qualified customers or disproportionately impacted communities. Utilities cannot recover those penalties through customer rates. By December 31, 2027, the commission must adopt minimum service-quality rules for investor-owned gas and electric utilities. Rules must include customer-specific incentives and penalties and address equity for disproportionately impacted communities; no customer payment is guaranteed.
Clean electricity taxpayers gain utility information access
Taxpayers claiming the federal clean electricity investment credit can send a written request to an investor-owned electric utility. The utility must provide reasonably needed compliance information or certifications within a reasonable time and in sufficient detail. Available information can include equipment origin, components, costs, and labor costs needed to calculate the material assistance cost ratio. The law does not change the federal credit amount or eligibility.
Colorado extends utility oversight and funds staff
The law moves the utility commission's scheduled repeal from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2033. Effective August 12, 2026, it provides $328,958 for the regulatory department to implement the law in budget year 2026–27. That includes $75,000 from the Motor Carrier Fund for staff services and $253,958 from the Fixed Utility Fund for legal services. The same $253,958 is reappropriated to the Department of Law, not added as separate new spending. Legal funding assumes 1.1 additional full-time-equivalent positions.
Leftover funds can support emergency dispatch
After the listed yearly costs and charges are fully paid, remaining money can buy public safety radio equipment. The equipment must be outside 911 call centers and used to dispatch responders to 911 calls. The law permits this spending but sets no amount.
Passenger drivers need fingerprint background checks
People seeking to drive for contract carriers, charter buses, children's activity buses, limousines, and off-road scenic charters need fingerprint-based criminal checks. The requirement also covers large-market taxicab permit drivers and drivers for taxicab-service certificate holders. Local law enforcement or a provider approved by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation must take the fingerprints.
Rail riders get stronger safety oversight
The Public Utilities Commission must oversee covered rail transit systems through safety plans, monitoring, investigations, and fixes for hazardous conditions. Its safety program must follow the state standard developed to meet federal rail oversight rules. Certain tramways and automated people movers overseen by other agencies are excluded. When a federal safety grant requires matching funds, the State Treasurer must credit the commission's fund with the amount the commission determines. The law sets no fixed matching amount.
Rideshare drivers face new identity checks
Rideshare companies must frequently check driver identities using facial recognition or approved technology that works as well or better. An exception covers companies with at least 75% minor riders or at least 90% revenue from school or government contracts. Those companies must also have at least 90% of drivers follow applicable commission rules. The commission must set identity-check rules within 18 months after the requirement takes effect. Driver impersonation or falsely claiming to answer a rider's request is a class 2 misdemeanor, or a class 6 felony during another felony; other criminal charges remain available.
Approved energy plans ease utility requirements
Qualifying city-owned utilities following approved clean energy plans are exempt from implementing a similar renewable energy standard. Other qualifying city-owned utilities must meet that standard but have no further duties under that subsection. Qualifying cooperatives following commission-approved clean energy plans can skip the annual renewable compliance report normally due June 1. Qualifying wholesale utilities following commission-approved electric resource plans are exempt from the 20% eligible-energy requirement for supplies to Colorado members. These exemptions do not set customer bill changes.
Higher no-call list fees for larger businesses
Businesses making telephone solicitations or accessing Colorado's no-call database pay annual fees set on a sliding scale. The maximum rises from $500 to $1,000 and applies only to entities with more than 1,000 employees. Entities with fewer than five employees and nonprofit corporations pay no fee. The commission sets a separate fee for conforming list brokers.
Faster energy plan approval excludes municipal utilities
Only electric cooperatives that voted to leave commission regulation can use this deemed-approval process for voluntary clean energy plans. Their governing bodies must first approve the plans. The Division of Administration, consulting the commission, must verify at least an 80% emissions cut by 2030 from 2005 levels. The reduction covers the cooperative's Colorado electricity sales. Municipal utilities can no longer use this process.
Higher permit fee ceiling for rideshare companies
Beginning September 1, 2026, the annual rideshare company permit fee ceiling rises from $111,000 to $161,250. The commission can set a lower fee; it does not have to charge the maximum. Fee setting requires approval from the regulatory department's executive director, in consultation with the commission director. Companies must receive at least 30 days' written notice before an increase takes effect.
New filing fees for communications providers
The commission can set fees for applications, petitions, registrations, formal complaints, and similar communications or basic emergency-service filings. This includes filings about deregulated services and products. Members of the public filing complaints and utilities already paying the specified regulatory assessments are exempt. Fees go to the Telecommunications Utility Fund to recover regulatory costs not covered by existing assessments. The law sets no fee amount.
More storage qualifies within customer generation limits
Energy storage can qualify under utility resource standards even when it stores electricity from sources other than renewables. Customer-side generation must be on property the customer owns or leases within the utility's service area. It must connect on the customer's side of the meter and primarily serve the customer's loads. Its size cannot exceed 200% of expected average annual electricity use across that customer's properties in the service area.
Electric bill cap calculation changes for customers
The annual retail rate-impact cap for electric resource standard compliance is 2% of a customer's total electric bill. The calculation no longer expressly subtracts costs of reasonably available new electricity supplies from noneligible resources. The cap concerns standard-compliance costs, not every cause of an electric bill increase. The law sets no specific household charge or savings.
Energy developers can appeal local permit decisions
City-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, independent transmission developers, and independent power producers can appeal certain major electric or gas facility decisions. Appeals cover local denials or conditions that unreasonably impair safe, reliable, and economical service. The entity must have applied for or obtained a required certificate, need no certificate, or have a conflicting prior commission order. Commission hearing and appeal procedures apply without otherwise placing these entities under commission regulation.
Utility applicants get deadlines and automatic approval
The commission can treat applications as incomplete only for failing requirements set by commission rules and decisions. It generally must decide complete applications within 120 days, with an extension of up to 130 days. A further extension of up to 90 days requires notice and a hearing establishing extraordinary conditions. Missing the applicable deadline results in automatic approval.
Utilities can opt out with generation minimums
Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying retail utilities can opt out of electric resource standards or continue an opt-out. They need a commission-approved clean energy plan and state verification that they meet its targets. Opting-out utilities must still get at least 3% of retail electricity sales from distributed generation. At least half of the required generation amount must come from customer-side generation. Utilities must continue supporting and reporting on customer generation and storage programs.
Passenger vehicle inspections follow commission rules
Carrier and large-market taxicab permit applicants must show that each vehicle has been inspected under commission rules. The law removes the carrier inspection's 20-day window and the large-market taxicab inspection's 12-month window. It also removes statutory requirements for a qualified mechanic and, for carriers, an attached passing report. Inspections remain required, but commission rules now control these details.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Jenny Willford
Democratic • House
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Alex Valdez
Democratic • House
Bob Marshall
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Javier Mabrey
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Lindsay Gilchrist
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Regina English
Democratic • House
Tisha Mauro
Democratic • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Cleave Simpson
Republican • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/13/2026
Senate amendments: Repass
Yes: 43 • No: 22
House vote • 5/13/2026
Senate amendments: Concur
Yes: 65 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/12/2026
Third reading: Amend (l.106)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/12/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 25 • No: 10
Senate vote • 5/11/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1326, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 5 • No: 2
Senate vote • 5/11/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1326, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 8 • No: 1
House vote • 5/11/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 43 • No: 22
House vote • 5/11/2026
Third reading: Amd (l.045)
Yes: 43 • No: 22
House vote • 5/11/2026
Third reading: Perm
Yes: 55 • No: 8
House vote • 5/4/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1326, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 8 • No: 3
House vote • 4/30/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1326, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 6 • No: 3
House vote • 4/23/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1326, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Yes: 9 • No: 4
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/29/2026HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/28/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/28/2026SenateSent to the Governor
5/28/2026HouseHouse Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/13/2026HouseSenate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
5/12/2026SenateHouse Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
5/11/2026HouseIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance
5/11/2026SenateSenate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
5/11/2026SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
5/11/2026SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
5/11/2026SenateHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
5/9/2026HouseHouse Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
5/6/2026HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
5/4/2026HouseHouse Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
4/30/2026HouseHouse Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Amended to Finance
4/23/2026HouseIntroduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment
3/9/2026House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
House Appropriations Preamend
House Energy & Environment Preamend
House Finance Preamend
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Senate Appropriations Preamend
Senate Finance Preamend (4)
Signed Act
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HB26-1414, Medical Record Requests
SB26-155, Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise
HB26-1429, County Administration Public Assistance Programs
HB26-1430, Transportation Funding Adjustments