Bill > SB037

This bill modifies Colorado's existing laws related to coal transition assistance by expanding and clarifying the responsibilities of the state's Just Transition Office. The bill requires the office to prioritize grants and funding for communities impacted by coal industry closures, with a focus on economic diversification, infrastructure projects, and workforce development. The legislation introduces new transparency requirements, mandating that the office provide detailed reporting on grant awards at annual SMART (State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent) Government Act hearings, including information about grant recipients and purposes. The bill extends the timeline for expending certain transition funds to fiscal year 2029-30, establishes a formal process for reviewing project proposals with specific timelines and notification requirements, and allows applicants an opportunity to remedy incomplete applications. Additionally, the bill instructs the Department of Local Affairs to potentially establish administrative policies that provide preferential treatment to just transition coal communities when distributing local government severance tax funds, and makes several technical modifications to existing statutes to support these goals of assisting communities experiencing energy transitions.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-037