Senate Committee of Reference Report
Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology
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April 17, 2025
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:
SB25-165 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations with favorable recommendation:
Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, strike everything below the enacting clause and
Page 1, Line 2substitute:
Page 1, Line 3"SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-103, amend
Page 1, Line 4(2.5) and (3); and add (7.5), (7.7), (9.3), and (9.5) as follows:
Page 1, Line 512-115-103. Definitions. As used in this article 115, unless the
Page 1, Line 6context otherwise requires:
Page 1, Line 7(2.5) "Direct supervision" means that the supervising licensed
Page 1, Line 8master electrician, journeyman electrician, or residential wireman, or
Page 1, Line 9photovoltaic installer is physically present at the same physical
Page 1, Line 10address where the apprentice is working.
Page 1, Line 11(3) "Electric light, heat, and power" means the standard types of
Page 1, Line 12electricity that are supplied by an electric utility, regardless of whether the
Page 1, Line 13source is an electric utility or the inverter output circuit of a photovoltaic
Page 1, Line 14system, direct-current lighting system, or a similar circuit from another
Page 1, Line 15type of renewable energy system or electric vehicle charging
Page 1, Line 16infrastructure, and used and consumed in a real estate improvement or
Page 1, Line 17real estate fixture regulated in accordance with the national
Page 1, Line 18electrical code, excluding chapter 8, "communications systems".
Page 1, Line 19(7.5) "NABCEP" means the North American Board of
Page 1, Line 20Certified Energy Practitioners.
Page 1, Line 21(7.7) "NABCEP PV installation professional" means an
Page 1, Line 22individual who is certified by the NABCEP to install
Page 1, Line 23photovoltaic systems.
Page 1, Line 24(9.3) "Photovoltaic installer" has the meaning set forth
Page 1, Line 25in section 40-2-128 (2)(a.5).
Page 1, Line 26(9.5) "PV installation training" means training concerning
Page 1, Line 27photovoltaic systems installation practices described in the "PV
Page 2, Line 1Installation Professional Job Task Analysis" document
Page 2, Line 2published by the NABCEP.
Page 2, Line 3SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-110, amend
Page 2, Line 4(2)(a)(I), (2)(a)(II), (2)(b) introductory portion, (2)(b)(II), (3)(a), (3)(b)
Page 2, Line 5introductory portion, and (3)(b)(II); and add (6) and (7) as follows:
Page 2, Line 612-115-110. License requirements - rules - continuing
Page 2, Line 7education - photovoltaic installer registration - repeal.
Page 2, Line 8(2) Journeyman electrician. (a) An applicant for a journeyman
Page 2, Line 9electrician's license shall furnish written evidence that the applicant has
Page 2, Line 10had the following:
Page 2, Line 11(I) Eight thousand hours over a period of at least four years'
Page 2, Line 12apprenticeship in the electrical trade or eight thousand hours over a
Page 2, Line 13period of at least four years' practical experience in wiring for,
Page 2, Line 14installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment for electric
Page 2, Line 15light, heat, and power;
Page 2, Line 16(II) Two thousand hours over a period of at least two of the
Page 2, Line 17applicant's years' years of the applicant's experience required by
Page 2, Line 18subsection (2)(a)(I) of this section has been in commercial, industrial, or
Page 2, Line 19substantially similar work; and
Page 2, Line 20(b) An applicant shall be permitted to may substitute for required
Page 2, Line 21practical experience evidence of academic training or practical experience
Page 2, Line 22in the electrical field, which shall be is credited as follows:
Page 2, Line 23(II) If the applicant has academic training, including military
Page 2, Line 24training or PV installation training, that does not qualify under
Page 2, Line 25subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, the board shall may provide work
Page 2, Line 26experience credit for the training or for substantially similar training
Page 2, Line 27established by rule.
Page 2, Line 28(3) Residential wireman. (a) An applicant for a residential
Page 2, Line 29wireman's license shall furnish written evidence that the applicant has at
Page 2, Line 30least two years of accredited training or four thousand hours over a
Page 2, Line 31period of at least two years of practical experience in wiring one-,
Page 2, Line 32two-, three-, and four-family dwellings.
Page 2, Line 33(b) An applicant shall be permitted to may substitute for required
Page 2, Line 34practical experience evidence of academic training in the electrical field,
Page 2, Line 35which shall be is credited as follows:
Page 2, Line 36(II) If the applicant has academic training, including military
Page 2, Line 37training or PV installation training, that is not sufficient to qualify
Page 2, Line 38under subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section, the board shall may provide
Page 2, Line 39work experience credit for the training according to a uniform ratio
Page 2, Line 40established by rule.
Page 2, Line 41(6) (a) For the purposes of subsections (2)(a)(I) and (3)(a) of
Page 2, Line 42this section, an applicant earns practical experience by working:
Page 2, Line 43(I) Two thousand hours as a NABCEP PV installation
Page 3, Line 1professional working for or working as a photovoltaic
Page 3, Line 2installer;
Page 3, Line 3(II) Up to two thousand hours of practical experience
Page 3, Line 4working under the supervision of a NABCEP PV installation
Page 3, Line 5professional working for or working as a photovoltaic
Page 3, Line 6installer, so long as the supervising NABCEP PV installation
Page 3, Line 7professional provides proof of the applicant's employment and
Page 3, Line 8an affidavit attesting that the applicant earned the hours
Page 3, Line 9working under the supervision of a NABCEP PV installation
Page 3, Line 10professional; or
Page 3, Line 11(III) Up to four thousand hours as a NABCEP PV
Page 3, Line 12installation professional working for or working as a
Page 3, Line 13photovoltaic installer if the applicant submits additional
Page 3, Line 14documentation to the board, including payroll records, work
Page 3, Line 15orders, project descriptions, or other relevant materials that
Page 3, Line 16document significant solar industry work that qualifies as
Page 3, Line 17electrical hours. The board shall review the documentation
Page 3, Line 18and determine how many hours of practical experience the
Page 3, Line 19applicant earns beyond the two thousand hours permitted by
Page 3, Line 20subsection (6)(a)(I) of this section.
Page 3, Line 21(b) For every two hours that an applicant works as
Page 3, Line 22described in subsection (6)(a)(II) or (6)(a)(III) of this section, the
Page 3, Line 23applicant earns one hour for the purposes of subsection (2)(a)(I)
Page 3, Line 24or (3)(a) of this section.
Page 3, Line 25(7) (a) A contractor that is operating as of September 1,
Page 3, Line 262025, and that performs work as a photovoltaic installer
Page 3, Line 27pursuant to section 40-2-128 with at least one NABCEP certified
Page 3, Line 28employee shall register as a photovoltaic installer with the
Page 3, Line 29board on or before December 31, 2026; except that a contractor
Page 3, Line 30may register with the board during a sixty-day grace period in
Page 3, Line 31accordance with section 12-20-202 (1)(e).
Page 3, Line 32(b) A contractor registering as a photovoltaic installer
Page 3, Line 33pursuant to this subsection (7) shall designate the contractor's
Page 3, Line 34primary owner as the designated agent for the purpose of
Page 3, Line 35registration with the board.
Page 3, Line 36(c) If the designated agent designated pursuant to
Page 3, Line 37subsection (7)(b) of this section is no longer affiliated with the
Page 3, Line 38contractor:
Page 3, Line 39(I) The contractor's registration as a photovoltaic
Page 3, Line 40installer with the board is invalid; and
Page 3, Line 41(II) The contractor's registration is ineligible for
Page 3, Line 42reinstatement.
Page 3, Line 43SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-115-111
Page 4, Line 1as follows:
Page 4, Line 212-115-111. Credit for experience not subject to supervision
Page 4, Line 3of a licensed electrician. For all applicants seeking work experience
Page 4, Line 4credit toward licensure, the board shall may give credit for electrical
Page 4, Line 5work that is not required to be performed by or under the supervision of
Page 4, Line 6a licensed electrician if the applicant can show that the particular
Page 4, Line 7experience received or the supervision under which the work has been
Page 4, Line 8performed is adequate.
Page 4, Line 9SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-2-128, amend
Page 4, Line 10(1)(a)(I)(A) and (2)(a)(I); and add (2)(a.5) as follows:
Page 4, Line 1140-2-128. Solar photovoltaic installations - supervision -
Page 4, Line 12qualifications of electrical contractors - definitions. (1) For all
Page 4, Line 13photovoltaic installations allowed under section 40-2-124 with a direct
Page 4, Line 14current design capacity of less than three hundred kilowatts:
Page 4, Line 15(a) (I) (A) The performance of all photovoltaic electrical work, the
Page 4, Line 16installation of photovoltaic modules, and the installation of photovoltaic
Page 4, Line 17module mounting equipment is subject to on-site supervision by a
Page 4, Line 18certified photovoltaic energy practitioner, as designated by the North
Page 4, Line 19American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and that
Page 4, Line 20is working for a photovoltaic installer, or a licensed master
Page 4, Line 21electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, or licensed residential
Page 4, Line 22wireman, as those terms are defined in section 12-115-103.
Page 4, Line 23(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 24(a) (I) "Photovoltaic electrical work" means wiring, grounding, or
Page 4, Line 25repairing electrical apparatus and equipment in a photovoltaic distributed
Page 4, Line 26generation system means electrical work performed on a
Page 4, Line 27photovoltaic system that is covered electrical work in
Page 4, Line 28accordance with the national electrical code, including
Page 4, Line 29articles 90.2 (1), 90.2 (3), 100, and 690 of the national electrical
Page 4, Line 30code.
Page 4, Line 31(a.5) "Photovoltaic installer" means a contractor that:
Page 4, Line 32(I) Is not a registered electrical contractor, as defined
Page 4, Line 33in section 12-115-103 (4);
Page 4, Line 34(II) Is registered with the state electrical board as a
Page 4, Line 35photovoltaic installer pursuant to section 12-115-110 (7) no
Page 4, Line 36later than December 31, 2026;
Page 4, Line 37(III) Is a business in good standing with the state and
Page 4, Line 38registered with the secretary of state;
Page 4, Line 39(IV) Is performing photovoltaic electrical work as of
Page 4, Line 40September 1, 2025; and
Page 4, Line 41(V) Employs a NABCEP PV installation professional, as
Page 4, Line 42defined in section 12-115-103 (7.7).
Page 4, Line 43SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-107, amend
Page 5, Line 1(2)(f); and add (2)(f.5) as follows:
Page 5, Line 212-115-107. Board powers and duties - rules - definitions.
Page 5, Line 3(2) In addition to all other powers and duties conferred or imposed upon
Page 5, Line 4the board by this article 115, the board is authorized to:
Page 5, Line 5(f) (I) Regulate a licensed master electrician, journeyman
Page 5, Line 6electrician, or residential wireman, or photovoltaic installer who,
Page 5, Line 7acting within his or her their scope of competence, supervises a solar
Page 5, Line 8photovoltaic installation pursuant to section 40-2-128.
Page 5, Line 9(II) On and after January 1, 2020, All photovoltaic electrical work
Page 5, Line 10for installations of at least three hundred kilowatts, including the
Page 5, Line 11interconnection of the modules, grounding of the modules, any balance
Page 5, Line 12of system wiring, and the customer-side point of connection to the utility
Page 5, Line 13grid, must:
Page 5, Line 14(A) Be performed by a licensed master electrician, a licensed
Page 5, Line 15journeyman electrician, a licensed residential wireman, or properly
Page 5, Line 16supervised electrical apprentices; and must
Page 5, Line 17(B) Comply with all applicable requirements of this article 115,
Page 5, Line 18including sections 12-115-109 and 12-115-115, and all applicable rules
Page 5, Line 19of the board.
Page 5, Line 20(III) Only an electrical contractor or a photovoltaic
Page 5, Line 21installer may perform or offer to perform photovoltaic
Page 5, Line 22electrical work for installations of less than three hundred
Page 5, Line 23kilowatts.
Page 5, Line 24(f.5) Regulate photovoltaic electrical work for
Page 5, Line 25installations of less than three hundred kilowatts performed
Page 5, Line 26in accordance with section 40-2-128;
Page 5, Line 27SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-117, amend
Page 5, Line 28(1)(l); and add (1)(m) as follows:
Page 5, Line 2912-115-117. Fees. (1) As established pursuant to section
Page 5, Line 3012-20-105, fees shall be charged by the board for the following:
Page 5, Line 31(l) Apprentice registration; and
Page 5, Line 32(m) Photovoltaic installer registration.
Page 5, Line 33SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 5, Line 34takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 5, Line 35ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 5, Line 36that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 5, Line 37of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 38act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 39effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 40November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
Page 5, Line 41official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.".