A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the use of artificial-intelligence-enabled
Page 1, Line 102detection components to mitigate wildfires.
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.)
The bill requires the division of fire prevention and control (division) in the department of public safety (department) to establish public-private agreements with one or more private partners, by which agreements the state may allocate responsibility or risk to one or more private partners to develop and operate wildfire detection components. The bill also creates the front line innovation and response efficiency cash fund (FIRE fund) in the state treasury. The money in the FIRE fund is annually appropriated to the department to be expended by the division for the purposes of the bill.
In current law, money in the unused state-owned real property fund is continuously appropriated to the department of personnel for several purposes, including paying for public-private agreements and associated costs. Of the money that is appropriated for this purpose, the bill requires the general assembly to transfer the following amounts to the FIRE fund:
- For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, up to $1,000,000;
- For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $2,000,000; and
- For the 2027-28 state fiscal year, $3,000,000.
The department is required to include information concerning the division's activities under the bill in the department's annual report to the legislative subject matter committees.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
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 finds that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) Colorado has experienced a sharp rise in wildfire activity in
Page 2, Line 4recent years, including the 20 largest fires and the 5 most destructive fires in the state's history;
Page 2, Line 5(b) The growing size, duration, intensity, costs, and impacts of
Page 2, Line 6wildfires create a dangerous environment that endangers firefighters and threatens entire communities;
Page 2, Line 7(c) In response, the division of fire prevention and control within
Page 2, Line 8the department of public safety has collaborated with local fire
Page 2, Line 9departments, counties, and federal partners to develop more effective and efficient wildfire preparedness and response strategies;
Page 2, Line 10(d) These efforts include adopting cutting-edge technologies such
Page 2, Line 11as wildfire detection cameras that are designed to quickly identify
Page 2, Line 12potential threats, ensure faster response times, and enhance firefighter
Page 2, Line 13safety;
Page 3, Line 1(e) So far, the existing network of more than 40 cameras deployed across Colorado has proven highly valuable;
Page 3, Line 2(f) These cameras provide on-demand visual intelligence that
Page 3, Line 3allows officials to swiftly assess emerging incidents, coordinate with
Page 3, Line 4jurisdictional agencies, and efficiently direct critical air and ground resources to the right locations;
Page 3, Line 5(g) The integration of wildfire cameras with artificial intelligence,
Page 3, Line 6or "AI", can play a crucial role in safely and efficiently increasing the use of prescribed fires;
Page 3, Line 7(h) AI-integrated cameras provide multiple vantage points to
Page 3, Line 8detect and pinpoint fire activity, monitor fires, and support fire managers in executing prescribed fire projects; and
Page 3, Line 9(i) AI technology is an invaluable asset in improving forest health
Page 3, Line 10and reducing wildfire risks, benefitting communities as well as fire management agencies.
Page 3, Line 11(2) The general assembly therefore declares that the safety of the
Page 3, Line 12people and property within the state is served by the use of AI-integrated
Page 3, Line 13cameras by the division of fire prevention and control within the department of public safety.
Page 3, Line 15SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1228, add (2.5)(f) as follows:
Page 3, Line 1624-33.5-1228. Colorado firefighting air corps - creation -
Page 3, Line 17powers - aircraft acquisitions required - center of excellence -
Page 3, Line 18unmanned aircraft systems study and pilot program - Colorado
Page 3, Line 19firefighting air corps fund - creation - report - deployment of
Page 3, Line 20detection components - rules - definitions. (2.5) (f) (I) As used in this subsection (2.5)(f), unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 1(A) "Camera station" means one or more cameras and
Page 4, Line 2associated hardware that are capable of generating a
Page 4, Line 3three-hundred-sixty-degree panoramic visual feed and utilizing pan, tilt, and twenty times or greater zoom operations.
Page 4, Line 4(B) "Detection component" means an
Page 4, Line 5artificial-intelligence-enabled wildfire detection and
Page 4, Line 6intelligence solution that includes a cohesive, interconnected
Page 4, Line 7collection of camera stations, artificial intelligence detection capabilities, software, and comprehensive services.
Page 4, Line 8(C) "End user" means an individual who is authorized by a
Page 4, Line 9vendor agreement to have access to the live feed of a detection component.
Page 4, Line 10(D) "Fund" means the fire technology cash fund created in subsection (2.5)(f)(IV) of this section.
Page 4, Line 11(E) "Prescribed fire" has the meaning set forth in section 29-22.5-102 (7).
Page 4, Line 12(F) "Vendor agreement" means an agreement between the
Page 4, Line 13division and one or more qualified vendors, which agreement
Page 4, Line 14requires the vendor to communicate to each end user the
Page 4, Line 15requirements of section 18-7-801 concerning criminal invasion of
Page 4, Line 16privacy, allows the state to allocate responsibility or risk to
Page 4, Line 17one or more vendors to develop and operate a detection component, and defines the scope of such responsibility or risk.
Page 4, Line 18(II) (A) As needed, the division may issue a request for
Page 4, Line 19qualifications from private entities for the purposes of this
Page 4, Line 20section. The request for qualifications must seek proposals for
Page 5, Line 1a detection component that can be procured as a comprehensive
Page 5, Line 2service provided by a vendor to ensure that the deployment,
Page 5, Line 3operation, and maintenance of the detection components are performed by the vendor.
Page 5, Line 4(B) The division shall develop a list of the most qualified
Page 5, Line 5vendors that submit proposals pursuant to subsection(2.5)(f)(II)(A) of this section.
Page 5, Line 6(C) The division may establish vendor agreements with
Page 5, Line 7one or more of the vendors that submit proposals pursuant to subsection (2.5)(f)(II)(A) of this section.
Page 5, Line 8(III) A detection component deployed pursuant to this section must:
Page 5, Line 9(A) Be placed in a location that enables triangulation of
Page 5, Line 10camera stations and other technology to provide precise
Page 5, Line 11locations of fires detected by the statewide coverage network of detection components;
Page 5, Line 12(B) Provide a live feed of information that can discover,
Page 5, Line 13locate, and confirm ignition of a fire, which feed refreshes at
Page 5, Line 14least once per minute and is monitored by an artificial
Page 5, Line 15intelligence system capable of identifying wildfire ignitions at a distance of at least ten miles;
Page 5, Line 16(C) Monitor fire behavior;
Page 5, Line 17(D) Provide enhanced situational awareness for evacuation and fire response activities;
Page 5, Line 18(E) Ensure that contained and prescribed fires are monitored appropriately;
Page 5, Line 19(F) Include a software interface for fire agencies and
Page 6, Line 1other end users that allows for real-time fire detection alerts,
Page 6, Line 2three-hundred-sixty-degree camera station views, and zoom
Page 6, Line 3capability as well as other necessary monitoring functionality; and
Page 6, Line 4(G) Use pixelation or another blurring technology to protect the privacy of privately owned, human-made structures.
Page 6, Line 5(IV) (A) The fire technology cash fund is created in the
Page 6, Line 6state treasury. The fund consists of any money that the
Page 6, Line 7general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund for
Page 6, Line 8the purposes of this section. The money in the fund is annually
Page 6, Line 9appropriated to the department to be expended by the division
Page 6, Line 10for utilization of fire detection response and management
Page 6, Line 11technologies, deployment of detection components through
Page 6, Line 12vendor agreements, and utilization of technological tools that enable advancement in fire detection and mitigation practices.
Page 6, Line 13(B) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and
Page 6, Line 14income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the
Page 6, Line 15fund to the fund. Any money remaining in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year remains in the fund.
Page 6, Line 16(C) The department may seek, accept, and expend gifts,
Page 6, Line 17grants, and donations to pay the costs of implementing this
Page 6, Line 18section. Any gifts, grants, and donations received by the
Page 6, Line 19department shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding any
Page 6, Line 20provision of this subsection (2.5)(f) to the contrary, the division
Page 6, Line 21shall not enter into a vendor agreement that commits the
Page 6, Line 22division to continue funding for a technology purchased
Page 6, Line 23through a single gift, grant, or donation.
Page 7, Line 1(V) In its annual report to the legislative committees of
Page 7, Line 2reference pursuant to section 2-7-203, the department shall
Page 7, Line 3include information concerning the activities of the division pursuant to this section during the preceding year.
Page 7, Line 5SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 7, Line 6takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 7, Line 7ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 7, Line 8that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 7, Line 9of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 7, Line 10act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 7, Line 11effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 7, Line 12November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.