SB 45 CO

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Passed One Chamber

The bill creates the Colorado nuclear workforce development and education council (council) in the Colorado school of mines to help meet growing workforce demand in the nuclear energy sector. The bill establishes a related grant program (grant program) to provide grants to institutions of higher education for the development or expansion of nuclear engineering degree or certificate programs or course offerings. The council shall convene advisory sessions with stakeholders from the nuclear, educational, and workforce development sectors; implement the grant program; and contract with one or more third-party entities for staffing and operational assistance.     The council may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations for council-related purposes. The state treasurer shall credit the gifts, grants, and donations to the Colorado nuclear workforce development and education cash fund (cash fund), which is created in the bill. The general assembly shall not appropriate general fund money to implement or maintain council operations or grant awards. The council shall convene and begin awarding grants only after the balance of the cash fund reaches or exceeds $500,000 (threshold) .     The bill imposes requirements to report to the Colorado commission on higher education and the general assembly about the council's funding sources, grant program implementation, and other uses of the grant program money. If the cash fund balance does not reach the threshold on or before September 1, 2027, the council is repealed and the money in the cash fund is refunded to the grantors or donors. Otherwise, the bill repeals the council, effective September 1, 2033, unless the council is extended following a sunset review.(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.)

• L. Liston Republican · sponsor
• K. Mullica Democratic · sponsor
• A. Paschal Democratic · sponsor
• T. Winter Republican · sponsor
• M. Baisley Republican · sponsor
• S. Bright Republican · sponsor
• J. Carson Republican · sponsor
• M. Catlin Republican · sponsor
• L. Frizell Republican · sponsor
• N. Hinrichsen Democratic · sponsor
• B. Kirkmeyer Republican · sponsor
• W. Lindstedt Democratic · sponsor
• B. Pelton Republican · sponsor
• R. Pelton Republican · sponsor
• J. Rich Republican · sponsor
• D. Roberts Democratic · sponsor
• C. Simpson Republican · sponsor
• M. Snyder Democratic · sponsor

1. May 12, 2026 House Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely · lower
2. May 9, 2026 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations · lower
3. May 6, 2026 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Finance · lower
4. Apr 29, 2026 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education · lower
5. Apr 29, 2026 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
6. Apr 28, 2026 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee · upper
7. Apr 28, 2026 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
8. Feb 9, 2026 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations · upper
9. Jan 27, 2026 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education · upper