Colorado · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 45: Nuclear Workforce Development & Education Program
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 45 is a bill introduced in the Colorado Senate on January 27, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Nuclear Workforce Development & Education Program. Primary sponsor: Marc Snyder (Democratic), Cleave Simpson (Republican), Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Janice Rich (Republican), Rod Pelton (Republican), Byron Pelton (Republican), William Lindstedt (Democratic), Barbara Kirkmeyer (Republican), Nick Hinrichsen (Democratic), Lisa Frizell (Republican), Marc Catlin (Republican), John Carson (Republican), Scott Bright (Republican), Mark Baisley (Republican), Ty Winter (Republican), Amy Paschal (Democratic), Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Larry Liston (Republican). It lists 5 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (May 12, 2026): House Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
The bill creates the Colorado nuclear workforce development and education council (council) in the Colorado school of mines to help meet growing workforce demand in the nuclear energy sector. The bill establishes a related grant program (grant program) to provide grants to institutions of higher education for the development or expansion of nuclear engineering degree or certificate programs or course offerings. The council shall convene advisory sessions with stakeholders from the nuclear, educational, and workforce development sectors; implement the grant program; and contract with one or more third-party entities for staffing and operational assistance. The council may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations for council-related purposes. The state treasurer shall credit the gifts, grants, and donations to the Colorado nuclear workforce development and education cash fund (cash fund), which is created in the bill. The general assembly shall not appropriate general fund money to implement or maintain council operations or grant awards. The council shall convene and begin awarding grants only after the balance of the cash fund reaches or exceeds $500,000 (threshold) . The bill imposes requirements to report to the Colorado commission on higher education and the general assembly about the council's funding sources, grant program implementation, and other uses of the grant program money. If the cash fund balance does not reach the threshold on or before September 1, 2027, the council is repealed and the money in the cash fund is refunded to the grantors or donors. Otherwise, the bill repeals the council, effective September 1, 2033, unless the council is extended following a sunset review.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 11 · Republican 12
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marc Snyder | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 12 |
| Cleave Simpson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 6 |
| Dylan Roberts | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 8 |
| Janice Rich | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 7 |
| Rod Pelton | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 35 |
| Byron Pelton | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 1 |
| William Lindstedt | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 25 |
| Barbara Kirkmeyer | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 23 |
| Nick Hinrichsen | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 3 |
| Lisa Frizell | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 2 |
| Marc Catlin | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 5 |
| John Carson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 30 |
| Scott Bright | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 13 |
| Mark Baisley | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 4 |
| Ty Winter | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 47 |
| Amy Paschal | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 18 |
| Kyle Mullica | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 24 |
| Larry Liston | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 10 |
| Matt Ball | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 31 |
| James Coleman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 33 |
| Tony Exum | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| Iman Jodeh | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 29 |
| Janice Marchman | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 15 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- House Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely
- House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
- House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Finance
- Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
- Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
- Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
- Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
- Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
- Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education