Bill Sponsor
Colorado Senate Bill 161
Session 2025A
Transit Reform
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on May 13, 2025
First Action
Feb 11, 2025
Latest Action
May 13, 2025
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
161
State
Colorado
Session
2025A
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Democrat
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Democrat
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Summary
The act makes the following changes for the purpose of improving the performance of the regional transportation district (RTD): Authorizes RTD to enter into a service partnership agreement with a local government, institution of higher education, business or housing entity, or special district to expand services within RTD's service territory or beyond the boundaries of RTD as authorized by law; Requires RTD, in discharging its responsibilities, to: Align with statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets, "Transportation Vision 2035" goals, and mode choice targets; Create worker retention goals; Adhere to the requirements of "General Directive 24-1: Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers", issued on September 25, 2024, by the federal transit administration of the United States department of transportation; and Develop performance measures to evaluate its progress in aligning with state climate goals and achieving its worker retention goals; Requires RTD to report to the transportation legislation review committee (TLRC) on or before December 15, 2025, on RTD's 5-year financial forecast, debt capacity, and use of agency reserve accounts; Requires RTD, in coordination with the department of transportation, the Denver regional council of governments, and local governments within RTD's service territory, to create a 10-year strategic plan no later than September 30, 2026, and a comprehensive operational analysis no less frequently than every 5 years beginning on April 10, 2026, and to report quarterly to the RTD board of directors regarding the plan and analysis. RTD is also required to annually report to the TLRC on its progress in delivering the projects identified in the 10-year strategic plan and the comprehensive operational analysis. Requires RTD, in conjunction with the creation of its 10-year strategic plan, to study or contract with a third party to study and identify opportunities to increase funding to achieve the goals, measures, and targets identified in the 10-year strategic plan; Requires RTD to create, maintain, and publish on its website information and dashboards related to capital projects, ridership and service information, planned service changes, workforce statistics, and transit safety; Requires RTD to update its service policies and standards, its equitable transit-oriented development policy, and its service buy-up policy, to create specific communication protocols, and to implement parking and transportation demand management strategies and policies; Requires RTD to report to the governor, general assembly, the TLRC, and the RTD board by December 2025 on its work to achieve the transportation expansion routes identified in the transportation expansion plan, including the north lines. If RTD has not completed and begun service by January 1, 2029, on the fixed guideway mass transit system proposed in the transportation expansion plan, RTD is required to report to the governor and the transportation committees of the general assembly every 6 months until service begins. Requires RTD to periodically notify the Denver regional council of governments and the department of local affairs of any known infrastructure gaps that exist within a transit center of a transit-oriented community within RTD's service territory; Requires RTD to modernize, advertise, and conduct outreach about its EcoPass programs and to report to the transportation committees of the general assembly about its efforts; Clarifies the powers and duties of the RTD board of directors; and Prohibits write-in candidates for the RTD board of directors. The act also requires other entities to analyze opportunities for the improvement of transit services by: Requiring certain residential and mixed-use developments to survey their residents about their interest in having the development provide annual pre-paid RTD transit passes via the EcoPass program, if the development does not already provide bulk-purchased EcoPasses. If a majority of residents express interest in bulk-purchased EcoPasses, the development is required to enroll in the EcoPass program for its residents. Requiring the transportation commission, on or before March 31, 2026, to develop and publish best practices and technical assistance materials concerning the creation of regional transportation authorities to increase funding for transit and to provide additional transit services within the state; and Creating an RTD accountability committee within the Colorado energy office that consists of 15 appointed members, including 14 voting members and one ex officio nonvoting member, whose work is intended to build upon the work of the previous RTD accountability committee created in 2020. On or before January 30, 2026, the committee is required to provide recommendations to the transportation committees of the general assembly concerning: The governance structure and compensation of the RTD board and executive leadership; Paratransit services within RTD; The representation of local governments and state agencies within RTD; and RTD's labor and workforce standards and workforce retention. The act also makes changes to the information that an eligible entity is required to provide to the clean transit enterprise after being awarded money from the local transit operations cash fund. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $146,720 is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the governor for use by the Colorado energy office for program administration. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
05/13/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor Signed
05/08/2025
Office of the Governor
Sent to the Governor
05/08/2025
House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/08/2025
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
05/07/2025
Senate
Senate Consideration of Second Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
05/07/2025
House
House Consideration of Second Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
05/07/2025
Colorado General Assembly
Second Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
05/07/2025
Senate
Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Reject, Discharge and Appoint
05/07/2025
House
House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Reject, Discharge and Appoint
05/07/2025
Colorado General Assembly
First Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
05/05/2025
Senate
Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee
05/02/2025
House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/01/2025
House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
05/01/2025
House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
04/28/2025
House
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/22/2025
House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government
04/22/2025
Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
04/21/2025
Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
04/17/2025
Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/21/2025 - No Amendments
04/15/2025
Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/05/2025
Senate
Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
02/11/2025
Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
Sources
Record Created
Feb 11, 2025 11:01:41 PM
Record Updated
Jun 10, 2025 9:52:39 AM