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HB 25-1099

Water Quality Data Standards

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nick Hinrichsen and 2 co-sponsors

HB 25-1099: CDPHE must set data standards for TMDL guidance by 2027 and adopt a statewide TMDL for pollutant permits by 2028, using last 5 years plus historic data.

House Committee on Energy & Environment Postpone Indefinitely
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1099

HB 25-1099: Water Quality Data Standards – Summary

A concise, accessible overview of HB 25-1099, including its purpose, key provisions, fiscal impact, and current legislative status.

Overview

  • Bill number: HB 25-1099
  • Title: Water Quality Data Standards
  • Primary sponsors: Rep. Mauro, Rep. Taggart; Sen. Hinrichsen
  • Introduced: January 27, 2025
  • Current status: House Committee on Energy & Environment postponed indefinitely (as of March 6, 2025)
  • Committee/LDR: Committee amendment HB1099_H_ENE.001; not amended
  • Purpose: To require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to establish standards for the data used to develop total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and to determine a statewide TMDL standard for pollutant permits, using recent and relevant historical data.

What the bill would do

  • Mandate CDPHE to adopt written guidance by January 1, 2027 on TMDL development, including:
    • Data collection recommendations
    • Analytic methods
    • Data quality assurance
    • Data accuracy
  • Require CDPHE to determine a statewide total maximum daily load (TMDL) by January 1, 2028 and to use this standard for pollutant permits.
  • Require that the standards rely on data collected within the last five years plus relevant historic data.
  • Tie the new standards to permit decisions for pollutants in state waters.

Key provisions and changes

  • TMDL guidance: Written guidance on how TMDLs are developed, with emphasis on data quality and methods.
  • Data scope: Both recent (last five years) data and relevant historic data must be included.
  • Implementation timeline:
    • Guidance issued: by January 1, 2027
    • Statewide TMDL determined and applied to permits: by January 1, 2028
  • Data and QA focus: Data collection practices, analytic methods, QA, and accuracy are central to the new standard.

Fiscal impact and staffing (as indicated in the Fiscal Note)

  • Estimated cost to CDPHE:
    • FY2025-26: $267,778 (General Fund); 0.7 to 0.8 FTE
    • FY2026-27: $267,061 (General Fund); 0.9 FTE
    • FY2027-28: $52,000 (General Fund); 0.0 FTE
    • Centrally appropriated costs included (e.g., health and retirement benefits)
  • Major cost components:
    • Personal services: ongoing staffing needs (0.7 FTE in Year 1, 0.9 FTE in Year 2)
    • Contractor: 1,400 hours over two fiscal years at $178/hour
    • Water sampling: about 50 samples per year at $1,040 per sample
    • Legal services: ~100 hours at $133.74/hour
  • Funding sources: General Fund (primary), with some reappropriations to the Department of Law; centrally appropriated costs handled separately
  • Implementation specifics:
    • 1.6 FTE required over FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 to conduct stakeholder engagement, manage the contractor, and finalize guidance
    • Ongoing, minimal workload increases in later years to maintain documentation

Effective date

  • Effective date: 90 days after adjournment of the 2025 legislative session (sine die), subject to any referendum actions

Who would be affected

  • State agency: Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
  • Stakeholders: Water quality managers, environmental groups, regulated municipalities and industries, and others involved in water permits and TMDLs
  • Legal counsel: Department of Law for support in guidance development

Legislative status and actions

  • Introduced: January 2025
  • Committee action: Postponed Indefinitely by the House Committee on Energy & Environment (March 6, 2025)
  • Next steps: As of the current status, the bill did not advance out of committee; further action would be needed for potential reconsideration or amendment

This summary covers the bill’s stated purpose, key provisions, fiscal implications, implementation timeline, and current legislative standing based on the provided documents.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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