Colorado HB 1226 — Manage Emissions from Electric Generating Units

Colorado, 2026A. HB 1226: Manage Emissions from Electric Generating Units

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

June 4, 2026 — Governor Signed

Summary

The act requires the division of administration in the department of public health and environment (division), no later than July 2029, to propose a final rule (rule) establishing certain limits on the emission of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide (emission limits) from an electric generating unit (unit) that is owned or operated by an electric utility; is located in the state; and emitted 200 tons or more of nitrogen oxides, or sulfur dioxide, or both in calendar year 2024 (covered unit). The rule must require compliance with the emission limits as soon as practicable after December 31, 2034, and must not cover units that, before December 31, 2029, have ceased operations; burn natural gas, fuel oil, or both only; or have certain systems installed. A unit that operates after December 31, 2034, must install certain pollution controls and comply with the emission limits on or before December 31, 2034.     An owner or operator of a unit is required to provide quarterly emission reports showing compliance with the rule to the division. On August 1, 2029, the air quality control commission in the department of public health and environment (AQCC) must submit to the general assembly a list of any units that are subject to a federal order. If there are any units subject to a federal order, the AQCC must also submit to the general assembly recommendations on whether to amend the requirements for units subject to federal order.     An investor-owned utility or wholesale electric cooperative that is the owner or operator of a unit is required, beginning 150 days after the issuance of a federal order requiring the unit to remain operating after the unit was scheduled to retire (order) and continuing every 90 days until the order is no longer in effect, to file a report with the public utilities commission (commission) that contains certain information about the costs to operate the unit and the amount of electricity generated by the unit. The commission must make these reports publicly available. An investor-owned utility is also permitted to submit an application for a financing order to recover the costs of complying with an order.     Any decision by the commission approving or modifying a portfolio in an electric resource plan of an investor-owned utility serving more than 500,000 customers must approve an amount of accredited capacity that allows the investor-owned utility to reliably achieve certain retirement and carbon dioxide emission reduction requirements. This requirement applies to an investor-owned utility serving more than 500,000 customers until the division determines that the investor-owned utility has achieved certain carbon dioxide emission reductions or until the investor-owned utility has retired all covered units, whichever is later.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

• M. Froelich — primary sponsor
• J. Willford — primary sponsor
• L. Cutter — primary sponsor
• M. Weissman — primary sponsor
• J. Bacon — primary sponsor
• K. Brown — primary sponsor
• S. Camacho — primary sponsor
• C. Clifford — primary sponsor
• L. García — primary sponsor
• L. Goldstein — primary sponsor
• E. Hamrick — primary sponsor
• J. Mabrey — primary sponsor
• K. McCormick — primary sponsor
• K. Nguyen — primary sponsor
• E. Sirota — primary sponsor
• L. Smith — primary sponsor
• R. Stewart — primary sponsor
• T. Story — primary sponsor
• B. Titone — primary sponsor
• A. Valdez — primary sponsor
• E. Velasco — primary sponsor
• S. Woodrow — primary sponsor
• Y. Zokaie — primary sponsor
• C. Kipp — primary sponsor
• K. Wallace — primary sponsor
• A. Boesenecker
• M. Duran
• R. English
• J. Jackson
• J. Joseph
• M. Lindsay
• T. Mauro
• J. McCluskie
• A. Paschal
• M. Rutinel
• J. Amabile
• A. Benavidez
• J. Coleman
• J. Danielson
• N. Hinrichsen
• I. Jodeh

Bill text

Signed Act Read version ↗

Final Act Read version ↗

Rerevised Read version ↗

Revised Read version ↗

Reengrossed Read version ↗

Engrossed Read version ↗

Introduced Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. February 18, 2026Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment
2. February 26, 2026House Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Amended to Appropriations
3. April 21, 2026House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
4. April 21, 2026House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
5. April 22, 2026House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
6. April 24, 2026Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
7. April 29, 2026Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
8. May 1, 2026Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 05/04/2026 - No Amendments
9. May 4, 2026Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee
10. May 5, 2026Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
11. May 6, 2026House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
12. May 7, 2026House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
13. June 3, 2026Signed by the Speaker of the House
14. June 3, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
15. June 3, 2026Sent to the Governor
16. June 4, 2026Governor Signed

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