House Bill 25-1030 Introduced

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning the requirement that certain building codes

• Page 1, Line 102have accessibility standards that are at least as

• Page 1, Line 103stringent as international building codes.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)

Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill requires a local government that adopts or substantially amends a building code to ensure that the building code meets or exceeds the accessibility standards in international building codes.

The bill also requires the division of fire prevention and control within the department of public safety to ensure that, when certain building codes pertaining to public school and heath facilities are substantially amended, the codes meet or exceed accessibility standards in international building codes.

The bill requires the state housing board to ensure that, when the uniform construction and maintenance standards for hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in jurisdictions with no local building code are substantially updated, the standards meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes. The bill also requires the state housing board to ensure that, when the recommendations for uniform housing standards and building codes to the general assembly and local governments are substantially updated, the codes meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly

• Page 2, Line 3finds and declares that:

• Page 2, Line 4(a)  Accessibility in building design is a fundamental right that

• Page 2, Line 5fosters inclusivity and equal opportunity for all individuals, particularly

• Page 2, Line 6those with disabilities. In alignment with article 9 of the United Nations

• Page 2, Line 7Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which emphasizes

• Page 2, Line 8the need for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate

• Page 2, Line 9fully in all aspects of life, Colorado recognizes the importance of creating

• Page 2, Line 10an accessible built environment.

• Page 2, Line 11(b)  It is crucial that Colorado's building codes incorporate

• Page 2, Line 12"Americans with Disabilities Act" and "Architectural Barriers Act"

• Page 2, Line 13standards, which require that buildings and facilities be accessible to

• Page 2, Line 14persons with disabilities;

• Page 2, Line 15(c)  Aligning local building codes with the internationally

• Page 2, Line 16recognized standards set forth by the International Building Code and

• Page 2, Line 17existing federal laws is crucial to ensure that all new constructions,

• Page 2, Line 18renovations, and alterations adhere to minimum accessibility

• Page 3, Line 1requirements;

• Page 3, Line 2(d)  This House Bill 25-______ requires local governments to

• Page 3, Line 3adopt or amend local building codes to meet or exceed these necessary

• Page 3, Line 4international building code accessibility standards:

• Page 3, Line 5(e)  By identifying and eliminating obstacles to accessibility, the

• Page 3, Line 6general assembly can create a built environment that is welcoming and

• Page 3, Line 7accessible to everyone; and

• Page 3, Line 8(f)  By prioritizing accessibility in Colorado building codes, state

• Page 3, Line 9and local governments can promote the participation of persons with

• Page 3, Line 10disabilities in all aspects of community life, thereby enhancing the quality

• Page 3, Line 11of life for all Colorado residents.

• Page 3, Line 12(2)  Therefore, the general assembly declares that establishing

• Page 3, Line 13uniform accessibility standards in building codes is of mixed local and

• Page 3, Line 14statewide concern to ensure that all individuals may access the physical

• Page 3, Line 15environment, transportation, information, and communications on an

• Page 3, Line 16equal basis.

• Page 3, Line 17SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 30-28-204 as

• Page 3, Line 18follows:

• Page 3, Line 1930-28-204.  Amendment of building code. (1)  The board of

• Page 3, Line 20county commissioners from time to time by resolution may alter and

• Page 3, Line 21amend any county building code after public hearing, notice of which

• Page 3, Line 22hearing shall be given by at least one publication in a newspaper of

• Page 3, Line 23general circulation in the county at least fourteen days prior to said

• Page 3, Line 24hearing. In no case shall the area covered by the building code be

• Page 3, Line 25extended or changed unless the same has been proposed by or is first

• Page 3, Line 26submitted for the approval, disapproval, or suggestions of the county

• Page 3, Line 27planning commission. Unless the county planning commission acts within

• Page 4, Line 1thirty days, approval shall be assumed. The opinion of the county

• Page 4, Line 2planning commission shall be advisory only and not binding upon the

• Page 4, Line 3board of county commissioners.

• Page 4, Line 4(2)  When a board of county commissioners adopts or

• Page 4, Line 5substantially amends any county building code, the board shall

• Page 4, Line 6ensure that the building code meets or exceeds the accessibility

• Page 4, Line 7standards adopted in one of the two most recent versions of the

• Page 4, Line 8international building code, as adopted by the International

• Page 4, Line 9Code Council or a successor organization.

• Page 4, Line 10SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 31-15-604 as

• Page 4, Line 11follows:

• Page 4, Line 1231-15-604.  Building codes - minimum accessibility standards

• Page 4, Line 13required - international building codes.When a governing body of

• Page 4, Line 14a municipality adopts or substantially amends any municipal

• Page 4, Line 15building code, the governing body shall ensure that the

• Page 4, Line 16building code meets or exceeds the accessibility standards

• Page 4, Line 17adopted in one of the two most recent versions of the

• Page 4, Line 18international building code, as adopted by the International

• Page 4, Line 19Code Council or a successor organization.

• Page 4, Line 20SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1203,

• Page 4, Line 21amend (1)(p) and (1)(p.5) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 2224-33.5-1203.  Duties of division. (1)  The division shall perform

• Page 4, Line 23the following duties:

• Page 4, Line 24(p)  Conduct construction plan reviews and inspect public school

• Page 4, Line 25and local district college buildings and structures and enforce the codes

• Page 4, Line 26adopted in accordance with sections 22-32-124 (2), and 23-71-122 (1)(v),

• Page 4, Line 27C.R.S., and sections 24-33.5-1213, and 24-33.5-1213.3. The division

• Page 5, Line 1shall ensure that when the codes adopted in accordance with

• Page 5, Line 2sections 22-32-124 (2), 23-71-122 (1)(v), 24-33.5-1213, and

• Page 5, Line 324-33.5-1213.3 are substantially amended, the codes meet or

• Page 5, Line 4exceed the accessibility standards adopted by one of the two

• Page 5, Line 5most recent versions of the international building code, as

• Page 5, Line 6adopted by the International Code Council or a successor

• Page 5, Line 7organization.

• Page 5, Line 8(p.5)  When there is no local building department or fire

• Page 5, Line 9department, or for facilities certified or potentially eligible for

• Page 5, Line 10certification by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services,

• Page 5, Line 11conduct construction plan reviews and inspections of health facility

• Page 5, Line 12buildings and structures, enforce the codes in accordance with sections

• Page 5, Line 1324-33.5-1212.5 and 24-33.5-1213, and issue certificates of compliance

• Page 5, Line 14for such buildings and structures. The division shall ensure that

• Page 5, Line 15when the codes adopted in accordance with sections

• Page 5, Line 1624-33.5-1212.5 and 24-33.5-1213 are substantially updated, the

• Page 5, Line 17codes meet or exceed the accessibility standards adopted by one

• Page 5, Line 18of the two most recent versions of the international building

• Page 5, Line 19code, as adopted by the International Code Council or a

• Page 5, Line 20successor organization.

• Page 5, Line 21SECTION 5.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-32-707, add (1.5)

• Page 5, Line 22as follows:

• Page 5, Line 2324-32-707.  Powers of board. (1.5)  The board shall ensure

• Page 5, Line 24that when the standards and codes prescribed in subsections

• Page 5, Line 25(1)(b) and (1)(c) of this section are substantially updated, the

• Page 5, Line 26standards and codes meet or exceed the accessibility

• Page 5, Line 27requirements in one of the two most recent versions of the

• Page 6, Line 1international building code, as adopted by the International

• Page 6, Line 2Code Council or a successor organization.

• Page 6, Line 3SECTION 6.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act

• Page 6, Line 4takes effect January 1, 2026; except that, if a referendum petition is filed

• Page 6, Line 5pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this

• Page 6, Line 6act or an item, section, or part of this act within the ninety-day period

• Page 6, Line 7after final adjournment of the general assembly, then the act, item,

• Page 6, Line 8section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the

• Page 6, Line 9general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take

• Page 6, Line 10effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the

• Page 6, Line 11governor.