HB 25-1154: Communication Services People with Disabilities Enterprise

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Under current law, the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind coordinates and advocates for the provision of, and access to, services and resources for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind (services and resources). Sections 1 through 11 of the act create the communication services for people with disabilities enterprise (enterprise) and the division for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (division) within the department of human services to provide these services and resources. Section 8 creates the Colorado division for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind cash fund (cash fund). Telecommunications relay services (TRS) are provided for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind in the state through a monthly surcharge that voice service providers collect from their telephone customers (monthly surcharge) and through a charge that sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications services impose at the point of sale (charge). Under current law, the public utilities commission (commission) imposes the monthly surcharge and charge, and the amounts collected are disbursed for the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind to provide services and resources; for the state librarian to provide reading services for the blind and print-disabled; and for the talking book library. Sections 4 and 15 transfer the authority to impose the monthly surcharge and charge to the enterprise, while maintaining the commission's responsibility for collecting the monthly surcharge from voice service providers. Money disbursed for services and resources is credited to the cash fund for use by the enterprise and the division. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $5,550,636 of monthly surcharge and charge amounts collected by voice service providers and prepaid wireless telecommunications services retailers to the departments of human services, education, regulatory agencies, revenue, personnel, and law to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 44

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 22, 2025Governor Signed
2. May 12, 2025Signed by the Speaker of the House
3. May 12, 2025Signed by the President of the Senate
4. May 12, 2025Sent to the Governor
5. May 1, 2025House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
6. April 29, 2025Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
7. April 28, 2025First Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
8. April 23, 2025House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee
9. April 21, 2025House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
10. April 17, 2025Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
11. April 16, 2025Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
12. April 15, 2025Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

Showing 12 most recent of 21 actions. Full history