Colorado Bill Modifies Prepaid Wireless Telecom Service Charges

CO Legislature Bill Search

Published January 1st, 2026

Detected March 7th, 2026

Summary

Colorado's HB26-1115 modifies charges on prepaid wireless telecommunications services, including the 911, 988, and telephone disability access (TDA) charges. The bill clarifies definitions, remittance procedures, and disclosure of tax information, with some modifications to who is subject to the charges.

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What changed

Colorado Bill HB26-1115 makes several modifications to the laws governing prepaid wireless telecommunications service charges, specifically concerning the 911, 988, and Telephone Disability Access (TDA) charges. Key changes include correcting cross-references, refining the definition of 'prepaid wireless telecommunications service', adding providers of free prepaid wireless services to remittance procedures, and expanding the types of tax information that can be disclosed to regulatory bodies. The bill also clarifies which entities are subject to these charges and exempts federally supported lifeline service suppliers and users from the prepaid wireless 988 charge.

These changes are effective from January 1, 2026, and primarily affect telecommunications providers operating in Colorado. Providers should review the updated definitions and remittance procedures to ensure compliance. The bill aims to correct erroneous references and ensure consistent application of charges, with specific clarifications regarding providers of free services and exemptions for lifeline services. No new penalties are explicitly mentioned, but adherence to the modified remittance and filing procedures is expected.

What to do next

Review updated definitions for 'prepaid wireless telecommunications service'.
Ensure compliance with modified remittance procedures for 911, 988, and TDA charges.
Verify adherence to electronic filing and payment requirements for all applicable charges.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1115

Prepaid Wireless Telecom Services Modifications

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Local Government |
Concerning modifications to the prepaid wireless telecommunications service charges.

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

Colorado imposes 3 charges on all retail sales of prepaid wireless telecommunications services: A prepaid wireless 911 charge, a prepaid wireless 988 charge, and a prepaid wireless telephone disability access (TDA) charge, which, effective January 1, 2026, replaces the former telecommunications relay service charge. The bill makes the following modifications to the laws implementing the 3 prepaid wireless telecommunications services:

Sections 1 and 10 of the bill correct erroneous cross references in connection with the prepaid wireless telecommunications services.
Section 2 modifies the definition of "prepaid wireless telecommunications service" (prepaid wireless definition) in the statute that implements the prepaid wireless 911 charge to include a wireless telecommunications service that is paid in advance, sold in predetermined units of time or money that decline with use or provides unlimited use of the service for a fixed time, and allows a user to make 911 calls. In addition, section 7 adds a cross reference to the prepaid wireless definition to the statute that implements the prepaid wireless TDA charge. Section 7 also adds a cross reference to an existing definition of "telecommunications service" to the prepaid wireless TDA charge statute, and section 9 adds the same cross reference to the prepaid wireless 988 charge statute.
Current law obligates a provider of free prepaid wireless services that uses federally supported services or programs to pay the prepaid wireless 911 charge. However, providers are not consistently referenced in the definition of a retail transaction or surcharge remittance procedures for the prepaid wireless 911 charge. Section 3 adds providers to both the definition and the remittance procedures.
Current law lists taxes or fees that are administered by the department of revenue (department), including the prepaid wireless 911 charge and the prepaid wireless TDA charge. Section 4 includes the prepaid wireless 988 charge in the list of taxes or fees that are administered by the department.
Current law permits the department to disclose confidential tax information regarding the prepaid wireless 911 charge to the public utilities commission (commission) and local governing bodies. Section 5 allows the department to disclose the same information regarding the prepaid wireless TDA charge and the prepaid wireless 988 charge to the commission and their respective enterprises.
Current law allows the department to require electronic filing and payment for the prepaid wireless 911 charge and the TDA charge. Section 6 allows the department to require electronic filing and payment for the prepaid wireless 988 charge.
Current law specifies that telecommunications services that are not subject to the prepaid wireless 911 charge are subject to the other 911 charges imposed by law. Section 8 clarifies that telecommunications services that are not subject to the prepaid wireless TDA charge are subject to other TDA charges imposed by law, and section 10 makes the same clarification regarding the prepaid wireless 988 charge.
The prepaid wireless 911 charge is imposed on providers that use federally supported services to provide free prepaid wireless telecommunications services. ~~Sections 9 and~~ **** Section **** 10 ~~impose the prepaid wireless 988 charge on such providers in the same manner as the prepaid wireless 911 charge~~ clarifies that federally supported lifeline service suppliers and users are exempt from the prepaid wireless 988 charge. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Andrew Boesenecker
Representative

Katie Stewart
Senator

Dylan Roberts
Senator

Scott Bright

Committees

House

Finance

Senate

Finance

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Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Mon

Mar 9

Senate Third Reading of Bills - Final Passage - Consent Calendar

10:00 AM Senate Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/06/2026 | Revised | PDF |
| 02/23/2026 | Reengrossed | PDF |
| 02/20/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 02/04/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/04/2026 | PA2 | PDF |
| 02/19/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/27/2026 | First Revised Fiscal Note | PDF |
| 02/11/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment E) | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1115, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 8-0. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment L.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1115, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 10-1. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/23/2026 | Third Reading | BILL | 52 AYE 10 NO 3 OTHER | Vote record |

| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/03/2026 | L.002 | SEN Finance | Passed [] | PDF |
| 02/19/2026 | L.001 | HOU Finance | 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/06/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 03/03/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 02/26/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance |
| 02/23/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/20/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 02/19/2026 | House | House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/04/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. A. Boesenecker | Rep. K. Stewart

Sen. S. Bright | Sen. D. Roberts

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

Rep. K. Brown | Rep. C. Clifford | Rep. M. Duran | Rep. S. Lieder | Rep. M. Lindsay