A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the administration of the property tax deferral
Page 1, Line 102program, and, in connection therewith, authorizing
Page 1, Line 103appropriations from specified cash funds for the 2025-26
Page 1, Line 104state fiscal year only to fund such administration.
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/.)
Joint Budget Committee. The state has a property tax deferral program (program) under which the state makes a secured loan to a qualified taxpayer to pay property taxes owed for the taxpayer's homestead. The program was available only to seniors and persons called into active military service until 2021, when the general assembly expanded the program to also allow an otherwise nonqualifying taxpayer whose property tax had increased by at least a specified percentage (new qualified taxpayer) to participate. In 2022, the general assembly shifted much of the responsibility for the administration of the program from the county treasurers to the state treasurer.
The bill reverses the 2022 shift of administrative responsibilities for the program so that county treasurers will generally have the same responsibilities for administering the program as they did prior to 2022. The bill also specifies that a new qualified taxpayer may only claim deferral of property taxes levied for a property tax year commencing on or after January 1, 2025, if the board of county commissioners of the county in which the taxpayer's homestead is located has, after receiving input from the county treasurer of that county, adopted a resolution requiring the county treasurer to accept applications for such deferral claims.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 9-1.5-104.7, amend (3) introductory portion; and add (4) as follows:
Page 2, Line 39-1.5-104.7. Damage prevention fund - repeal. (3) Except as
Page 2, Line 4otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, only the safety
Page 2, Line 5commission may authorize expenditures from the fund. Subject to annual
Page 2, Line 6appropriation by the general assembly, the safety commission may use money deposited in the fund only to:
Page 2, Line 7(4) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 2, Line 8assembly may appropriate money from the fund to the
Page 2, Line 9department of treasury for use by the administration division
Page 2, Line 10for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 2, Line 11(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 2, Line 12SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-22-103, amend
Page 2, Line 13(3); and add (5) as follows:
Page 3, Line 118-22-103. Source of revenues - allocation of money - repeal.
Page 3, Line 2(3) There is
herebyPage 3, Line 3system surcharge fund which
shall consistmoneysPage 3, Line 4received by the state treasurer pursuant to
paragraph (b) of subsection (2)Page 3, Line 5subsection (2)(b) of this section. In accordance with section 24-36-114,
Page 3, Line 6
C.R.S.,Page 3, Line 7shall be credited to the general fund. Any
moneysPage 3, Line 8appropriated by the general assembly
shall remainPage 3, Line 9youthful offender system surcharge fund and shall not be transferred or
Page 3, Line 10revert to the general fund of the state at the end of any fiscal year. Except
Page 3, Line 11as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, all
moneysPage 3, Line 12money in the fund
shall bePage 3, Line 13general assembly to the department of corrections to cover the direct and
Page 3, Line 14indirect costs associated with the rehabilitation, education, and treatment of youthful offenders sentenced to a youthful offender system.
Page 3, Line 15(5) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 3, Line 16assembly may appropriate money from the youthful offender
Page 3, Line 17system surcharge fund to the department of treasury for use by
Page 3, Line 18the administration division for administration of the state
Page 3, Line 19property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 3, Line 20(b) This subsection (5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 3, Line 21SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-50-122, amend (2); and add (3) as follows:
Page 3, Line 2224-50-122. Opportunities for training - professional
Page 3, Line 23development center cash fund - creation - rules - repeal. (2) The
Page 3, Line 24executive director of the department of personnel shall establish any fees
Page 4, Line 1necessary to pay for the direct and indirect costs of the training programs
Page 4, Line 2specified in subsection (1) of this section. All
moneysPage 4, Line 3shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the
Page 4, Line 4professional development center cash fund, which fund is
herebyPage 4, Line 5Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, the
Page 4, Line 6
moneysshall bePage 4, Line 7the general assembly for the direct and indirect costs of establishing and
Page 4, Line 8maintaining the training programs specified in subsection (1) of this
Page 4, Line 9section. All interest derived from the deposit and investment of
moneysPage 4, Line 10money in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Any unexpended and
Page 4, Line 11unencumbered
moneysPage 4, Line 12year
shall remainPage 4, Line 13(3) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 4, Line 14assembly may appropriate money from the professional
Page 4, Line 15development center cash fund to the department of treasury
Page 4, Line 16for use by the administration division for administration of the
Page 4, Line 17state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 4, Line 18(b) This subsection (3) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 4, Line 19SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-4-1708, amend (1)(a) introductory portion; and add (5) as follows:
Page 4, Line 2025-4-1708. Fund created - repeal. (1) (a)
There is herebyPage 4, Line 21
established in the state treasury a fund to be known asPage 4, Line 22fund is created in the state treasury, which fund is, except as
Page 4, Line 23otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, subject to
Page 4, Line 24annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department of public health and environment for the purposes of:
Page 5, Line 1(5) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 5, Line 2assembly may appropriate money from the immunization fund to
Page 5, Line 3the department of treasury for use by the administration
Page 5, Line 4division for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 5, Line 5(b) This subsection (5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 6SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25.5-10-305.5, add (4) as follows:
Page 5, Line 725.5-10-305.5. Family support services fund - creation - repeal.
Page 5, Line 8(4) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 5, Line 9assembly may appropriate money from the fund to the
Page 5, Line 10department of treasury for use by the administration division
Page 5, Line 11for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 5, Line 12(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 13SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 28-3-107 as follows:
Page 5, Line 1428-3-107. Department of military and veterans affairs fund -
Page 5, Line 15creation - repeal. (1) Any gifts, grants, and donations accepted by the
Page 5, Line 16adjutant general pursuant to section 28-3-106 (1)(x) shall be transmitted
Page 5, Line 17to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the department of
Page 5, Line 18military and veterans affairs fund, which fund is
herebyPage 5, Line 19referred to in this section as the "fund". The
moneysPage 5, Line 20shall be invested by the state treasurer as provided in sections 24-36-109,
Page 5, Line 2124-36-112, and 24-36-113.
C.R.S.Page 5, Line 22
moneysPage 6, Line 1remain in the fund and shall not revert or be credited or transferred to the
Page 6, Line 2general fund or be transferred to any other fund. Any interest or income
Page 6, Line 3derived from the deposit and investment of
moneysPage 6, Line 4
shall remainPage 6, Line 5fund. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this
Page 6, Line 6section,
moneysshall bePage 6, Line 7to the department for use by the adjutant general to carry out the functions and duties set forth in this
titlePage 6, Line 8(2) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 6, Line 9assembly may appropriate money from the fund to the
Page 6, Line 10department of treasury for use by the administration division
Page 6, Line 11for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 6, Line 12(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 6, Line 13SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-122.8, amend (1); and add (4) as follows:
Page 6, Line 1437-60-122.8. Publications fund - repeal. (1) There is
herebyPage 6, Line 15created in the state treasury the publications fund. The fund
shall consistPage 6, Line 16
of moneysPage 6, Line 17board for copies of public records or publications provided by the board.
Page 6, Line 18The
moneysPage 6, Line 19the cost of providing copies of public records or publications to persons
Page 6, Line 20outside the board. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of
Page 6, Line 21this section, the
moneysare herebyPage 6, Line 22(4) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 6, Line 23assembly may appropriate money from the publications fund to
Page 7, Line 1the department of treasury for use by the administration
Page 7, Line 2division for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 7, Line 3(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 7, Line 4SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 38-25.5-105 as follows:
Page 7, Line 538-25.5-105. Department of revenue fees - repeal. (1) Except
Page 7, Line 6as provided in section 38-25.5-103.5, fees collected by the department of
Page 7, Line 7revenue pursuant to this
articlePage 7, Line 8state treasury in the tax lien certification fund which fund is
herebyPage 7, Line 9created in the state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in
Page 7, Line 10subsection (2) of this section,
moneysPage 7, Line 11interest earned on such
moneysPage 7, Line 12of revenue for the purposes of this
articlePage 7, Line 13with the annual appropriation by the general assembly and shall not be
Page 7, Line 14deposited in or transferred to the general fund; except that
moneysPage 7, Line 15in excess of the maximum reserve, as defined in section 24-75-402
Page 7, Line 16(2)(e.5),
C.R.S.,Page 7, Line 17commencing on or after July 1, 2000, shall be transferred to the general fund.
Page 7, Line 18(2) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 7, Line 19assembly may appropriate money from the tax lien certification
Page 7, Line 20fund to the department of treasury for use by the
Page 7, Line 21administration division for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 7, Line 22(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 7, Line 23SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-28-102.5, amend (1); and add (3) as follows:
Page 8, Line 139-28-102.5. Licensing of wholesale subcontractors - rules -
Page 8, Line 2fines - repeal. (1) It is unlawful for any wholesale subcontractor to sell
Page 8, Line 3or offer for sale cigarettes to a retailer in this state without first obtaining
Page 8, Line 4a license therefor, granted and issued by the department, which license
Page 8, Line 5shall be in effect until June 30 following the date of issue, unless sooner
Page 8, Line 6revoked. Such licenses shall be granted only to such wholesale
Page 8, Line 7subcontractors who own or operate the places from which such sales are
Page 8, Line 8to be made, and, in case sales are made from two or more separate places
Page 8, Line 9by any such wholesale subcontractor, a separate license for each place of
Page 8, Line 10business shall be required. No license shall be issued to a wholesale
Page 8, Line 11subcontractor unless the wholesale subcontractor has a current license
Page 8, Line 12issued pursuant to section 39-26-103. Such licenses shall be renewed only
Page 8, Line 13upon timely application and payment of the required fee prior to
Page 8, Line 14expiration. Such licenses may be transferred in the discretion of and
Page 8, Line 15pursuant to rules adopted by the department. The license fee shall be ten
Page 8, Line 16dollars per year, and such license fees shall be credited to the wholesale
Page 8, Line 17and distributing subcontractor license fund, which is
herebyPage 8, Line 18state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of
Page 8, Line 19this section, all
moneysshall bePage 8, Line 20appropriation by the general assembly to the department for costs incurred
Page 8, Line 21in administering this section and section 39-28.5-104.5. Such license fees
Page 8, Line 22shall be reduced at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents for each expired
Page 8, Line 23quarter of the license year. The department shall, on reasonable notice and
Page 8, Line 24after a hearing, suspend or revoke the license of any wholesale
Page 8, Line 25subcontractor violating any provision of this
articlePage 8, Line 26license shall be issued to such wholesale subcontractor within a period of
Page 9, Line 1two years thereafter. The department may share information on the names
Page 9, Line 2and addresses of persons who purchased cigarettes from a wholesale
Page 9, Line 3subcontractor for resale with the department of public health and
Page 9, Line 4environment and county and district public health agencies. The
Page 9, Line 5department shall refuse to issue a new or renewal wholesale subcontractor
Page 9, Line 6license and shall revoke a wholesale subcontractor's license, if the
Page 9, Line 7wholesaler owes the state any delinquent taxes administered by the
Page 9, Line 8department or interest thereon pursuant to this
titlePage 9, Line 9been determined by law to be due and unpaid, unless the wholesaler has
Page 9, Line 10entered into an agreement approved by the department to pay the amount due.
Page 9, Line 11(3) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 9, Line 12assembly may appropriate money from the wholesale and
Page 9, Line 13distributing subcontractor license fund to the department of
Page 9, Line 14treasury for use by the administration division for
Page 9, Line 15administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of this title 39.
Page 9, Line 16(b) This subsection (3) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 9, Line 17SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 40-10.1-509 as follows:
Page 9, Line 1840-10.1-509. Outreach - fund - repeal. (1) The moving outreach
Page 9, Line 19fund is
herebyPage 9, Line 20the penalties collected from movers and credited to the fund under section
Page 9, Line 2140-7-112. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this
Page 9, Line 22section, the commission shall use the fund to educate consumers about
Page 9, Line 23their rights and the responsibilities of movers under this part 5. This
Page 9, Line 24outreach includes public service announcements about the licensing of
Page 10, Line 1movers. The
moneysPage 10, Line 2
moneysremaindoPage 10, Line 3(2) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 10, Line 4assembly may appropriate money from the moving outreach fund
Page 10, Line 5to the department of treasury for use by the administration
Page 10, Line 6division for administration of the state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 10, Line 7(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 10, Line 8SECTION 11. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 42-1-226 as follows:
Page 10, Line 942-1-226. Disabled parking education and enforcement fund
Page 10, Line 10- created - repeal.
There is hereby created in the state treasuryPage 10, Line 11disabled parking education and enforcement fund is created in the
Page 10, Line 12state treasury, which fund consists of money collected pursuant to
Page 10, Line 13this section and section 42-4-1208 (6) and (7). Except as otherwise
Page 10, Line 14provided in subsection (2) of this section, the general assembly shall
Page 10, Line 15appropriate the money in the fund for the purposes specified in sections
Page 10, Line 1642-1-227, 42-3-204, and 42-4-1208. Unexpended and unencumbered
Page 10, Line 17money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and shall
Page 10, Line 18not be credited or transferred to the general fund or another fund. The
Page 10, Line 19department may accept gifts, grants, or donations from private or public
Page 10, Line 20sources for the purposes of this section. All private and public money
Page 10, Line 21received through gifts, grants, or donations must be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the fund.
Page 10, Line 22(2) (a) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year only, the general
Page 10, Line 23assembly may appropriate money from the disabled parking
Page 11, Line 1education and enforcement fund to the department of treasury
Page 11, Line 2for use by the administration division for administration of the
Page 11, Line 3state property tax deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39.
Page 11, Line 4(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 11, Line 5SECTION 12. Appropriation. (1) For the 2025-26 state fiscal
Page 11, Line 6year, $721,716 is appropriated to the department of treasury for use by the
Page 11, Line 7administration division for administration of the state property tax
Page 11, Line 8deferral program pursuant to article 3.5 of title 39, C.R.S. This appropriation consists of:
Page 11, Line 9(a) $175,058 from the damage prevention fund created in section 9-1.5-104.7, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 10(b) $121,389 from the disabled parking education and enforcement fund created in section 42-1-226, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 11(c) $118,741 from the professional development center cash fund created in section 24-50-122, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 12(d) $85,901 from the tax lien certification fund created in section 38-25.5-105, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 13(e) $83,839 from the dispute resolution fund created in section 13-22-310, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 14(f) $83,354 from the family support services fund created in section 25.5-10-305.5, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 15(g) $21,278 from the immunization fund created in section 25-4-1708, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 16(h) $9,648 from the publications fund created in section 37-60-122.8, C.R.S.;
Page 11, Line 17(i) $6,784 from the youthful offender system surcharge fund created in section 18-22-103, C.R.S.;
Page 12, Line 1(j) $5,963 from the moving outreach fund created in section 40-10.1-509, C.R.S.;
Page 12, Line 2(k) $5,348 from the department of military and veterans affairs fund created in section 28-3-107, C.R.S.; and
Page 12, Line 3(l) $4,413 from the wholesale and distributing subcontractor license fund created in section 39-28-102.5, C.R.S.
Page 12, Line 4(2) To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation as follows:
Page 12, Line 5(a) $600,000 for a contract with a third party for program administration as authorized by section 39-3.5-103.5 (2), C.R.S.;
Page 12, Line 6(b) $99,360 for temporary employees to support a call center and
Page 12, Line 7field calls, which amount is based on an assumption that the division will
Page 12, Line 8require an additional 4.0 FTE in January and February 2026, an additional
Page 12, Line 93.0 FTE in March and April 2026, and an additional 1.0 FTE in May 2026; and
Page 12, Line 10(c) $22,356 for other operating and administrative expenses.
Page 12, Line 11SECTION 13. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 12, Line 12determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 12, Line 13preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 12, Line 14the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.