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Colorado Bill Updates State Emergency Response Departments and Divisions

CO Legislature Bill Search

Published January 1st, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

Colorado HB26-1252 restructures state emergency response departments, moving units, creating a state recovery task force, and clarifying duties. Information related to disaster survivors will be exempt from public disclosure.

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What changed

Colorado HB26-1252, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, enacts significant structural and operational changes to state entities responsible for emergency response. Key provisions include moving the auxiliary communications unit from the office of emergency management to the office of public safety communications, establishing a new state recovery task force within the office of emergency management, and transferring certain security threat preparation and response duties from the office of preparedness to the office of emergency management. The bill also exempts disaster survivor information from public disclosure and renames the office of preparedness to the office of grants management, clarifying its duties.

Regulated entities and government agencies within Colorado should review these changes to understand the new organizational structure and responsibilities for emergency management and disaster recovery. Specifically, entities involved in homeland security and cybersecurity will see changes in advisory board compositions. The relaxation of application requirements for the Colorado nonprofit security grant program during exigent circumstances may impact eligible organizations. The repeal of the state controller's reporting requirement on federal disaster funds simplifies reporting for certain entities. Compliance officers should ensure their understanding of the revised departmental functions and information disclosure requirements.

What to do next

Review organizational changes to state emergency response departments and divisions.
Understand new information disclosure requirements for disaster survivor data.
Assess impact of changes to the Colorado nonprofit security grant program application process.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1252

Updates to State Emergency Response Departments & Divisions

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | State Government |
Concerning updates to state entities responsible for responding to emergency situations.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

The bill moves the auxiliary communications unit from the office of emergency management to the office of public safety communications.

The state recovery task force is created within the office of emergency management and is tasked with coordinating disaster recovery efforts within the state, among other duties.

Information related to disaster survivors is exempt from public disclosure.

Certain duties and responsibilities related to the state's preparation for, and response to, security threats are transferred from the office of preparedness to the office of emergency management.

The bill repeals the requirement for the state controller to report to the joint budget committee about the expenditure of federal funds for costs associated with a disaster.

Application requirements for the Colorado nonprofit security grant program are relaxed during exigent circumstances.

The composition of several state advisory boards related to homeland security and cybersecurity are changed.

The office of preparedness is changed to the office of grants management, and its duties are clarified.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Mary Bradfield
Representative

Tisha Mauro
Senator

Janice Marchman
Senator

John Carson

Committees

House

State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

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Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Tue

Mar 17

House Third Reading of Bills - Final Passage

9:00 AM House Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/16/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 02/18/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/16/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/03/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1252, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 8-3. | Vote summary |
Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/16/2026 | L.003 | Second Reading | Passed [*] | PDF |
| 03/12/2026 | L.002 | HOU State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs | Passed [] | PDF |
| 03/12/2026 | L.001 | HOU State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs | Passed [*] | PDF |
* Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.

** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.

| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/16/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor |
| 03/12/2026 | House | House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/18/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. M. Bradfield | Rep. T. Mauro

Sen. J. Carson | Sen. J. Marchman

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

(None)