House Bill 26-1034 Introduced

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning modifications to environmental standards for

• Page 1, Line 102certain irrigation equipment.

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.)

House Bill 23-1161 established environmental standards for irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies that are sold or leased in the state on and after January 1, 2026, and are not specifically excluded from the federal WaterSense program (program).

The bill repeals the environmental standard for irrigation controllers. The bill also modifies the environmental standard for spray sprinkler bodies to:

• No longer require that spray sprinkler bodies include a check valve; and
• Require that spray sprinkler bodies are certified to the program, rather than requiring that spray sprinkler bodies meet the water efficiency and performance criteria of the program.

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

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-102, repeal

• Page 2, Line 3(10) and (38) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 46-7.5-102.  Definitions.

• Page 2, Line 5As used in this article 7.5, unless the context otherwise requires

• Page 2, Line 6and except as determined by rule pursuant to section 6-7.5-106 (1):

• Page 2, Line 7(10)  "Check valve" means a component that is internal to a spray

• Page 2, Line 8sprinkler body and prevents system drainage during periods of

• Page 2, Line 9nonoperation.

• Page 2, Line 10(38)  "Irrigation controller" means a standalone controller, an

• Page 2, Line 11add-on device, or a plug-in device that is used to operate an automatic

• Page 2, Line 12irrigation system such as a lawn sprinkler or drip irrigation system

• Page 2, Line 13designed and intended for nonagricultural purposes. "Irrigation

• Page 2, Line 14controller" includes:

• Page 2, Line 15(a)  A soil moisture-based irrigation controller that inhibits or

• Page 2, Line 16allows an irrigation event based on a reading from a soil moisture sensor

• Page 2, Line 17mechanism; and

• Page 2, Line 18(b)  A weather-based irrigation controller that uses current weather

• Page 2, Line 19data as a basis for scheduling irrigation.

• Page 2, Line 20SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-104, repeal

• Page 2, Line 21(1)(j.7) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 226-7.5-104.  Scope and applicability.

• Page 3, Line 1(1)  Subject to subsection (2) of this section and as further

• Page 3, Line 2specified in section 6-7.5-105, this article 7.5 applies to the following

• Page 3, Line 3products sold as new in Colorado:

• Page 3, Line 4(j.7)  Irrigation controllers;

• Page 3, Line 5SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-105, amend

• Page 3, Line 6(5)(k); and repeal (5)(h) as follows:

• Page 3, Line 76-7.5-105.  Standards - effective dates.

• Page 3, Line 8(5)  On and after January 1, 2026, a person shall not sell, offer to

• Page 3, Line 9sell, lease, or offer to lease any of the following new products in Colorado

• Page 3, Line 10unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the following

• Page 3, Line 11efficiency standards, as applicable:

• Page 3, Line 12(h)  Irrigation controllers must comply with the following

• Page 3, Line 13requirements:

• Page 3, Line 14(I)  Weather-based irrigation controllers included within the scope

• Page 3, Line 15of the WaterSense program product specification for weather-based

• Page 3, Line 16irrigation controllers must meet the water efficiency and performance

• Page 3, Line 17criteria and other requirements for that specification; and

• Page 3, Line 18(II)  Soil moisture-based irrigation controllers included within the

• Page 3, Line 19scope of the WaterSense program product specification for soil

• Page 3, Line 20moisture-based irrigation controllers must meet the water efficiency and

• Page 3, Line 21performance criteria and other requirements for that specification.

• Page 3, Line 22(k)  Spray sprinkler bodies that are not specifically excluded from

• Page 3, Line 23the scope of the WaterSense program product specification for spray

• Page 3, Line 24sprinkler bodies must include an integral pressure regulator and a check

• Page 3, Line 25valve and must meet the water efficiency and performance criteria and

• Page 3, Line 26other requirements of must be certified to that specification.

• Page 3, Line 27SECTION 4.  Act subject to petition - effective date -

• Page 4, Line 1applicability. (1)  This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following

• Page 4, Line 2the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the

• Page 4, Line 3general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,

• Page 4, Line 42026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1

• Page 4, Line 5(3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section,

• Page 4, Line 6or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part

• Page 4, Line 7will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election

• Page 4, Line 8to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the

• Page 4, Line 9date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.

• Page 4, Line 10(2)  This act applies to conduct occurring on or after the applicable

• Page 4, Line 11effective date of this act.