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HB26-1016 • 2026

Continuation of Open Educational Resources Program

The act extends the repeal date of the open educational resources grant program and the Colorado open educational resources council (council) to November 1, 2031. The act increases representation from

Budget Education Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. L. Frizell, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. R. English, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. N. Ricks, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. G. Rydin, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. K. Stewart, Sen. J. Bridges, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. M. Snyder
Last action
2026-06-01
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill extends existing programs but does not create new ones; all changes are extensions or adjustments to current structures.

Continuation of Open Educational Resources Program

This law extends the open educational resources grant program and council until November 1, 2031, increases public college representation on the council from 12 to 15 members, requires annual reports through December 31, 2031, and provides $275,000 in state funding.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the end date for the open educational resources grant program and council to November 1, 2031.
  • Increases the number of public college representatives on the council from 12 members to 15 members.
  • Requires the Department of Higher Education to submit an annual report about these resources until December 31, 2031.
  • Provides $275,000 in state funding for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and special programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Higher Education
  • Public institutions of higher education in Colorado
  • Members of the Colorado Open Educational Resources Council

Terms To Know

Open Educational Resources (OER)
Teaching and learning materials that are used as primary resources for courses.
Colorado Open Educational Resources Council
A group created within the Department of Higher Education to advise on open educational resources.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many students will use these free resources in future years.
  • The funding is based on an assumption that one full-time employee position is needed, but the specific job title is not named.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

J.002

HOU Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment adds $500,000 in funding for the 2026-27 school year to support open educational resources and allows hiring one new full-time staff member.

  • $500,000 is set aside from the general fund for the department of higher education during the 2026-27 fiscal year.
  • The money can be used specifically for open educational resources projects and programs.
  • The funding includes an allowance to hire one additional full-time employee (1.0 FTE).
  • The bill's title is updated to show that it now includes a new appropriation of funds.
  • The amendment text does not explain exactly how the $500,000 will be split between different projects or schools.
  • It is unclear which specific open educational resources initiatives will receive this money first.
J.003

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment lowers the amount of money set aside for a specific part of the open educational resources program from $500,000 to $275,000.

  • Reduces the funding allocation on page 3, line 19 of the bill by changing it from $500,000 to $275,000.
  • The amendment text does not explain which specific project or activity receives this reduced funding.
  • It is unclear if other parts of the bill's budget remain unchanged because only one line item was modified in this version.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-01 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-05-27 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-05-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-05-27 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-05-12 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  6. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-05-08 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

  8. 2026-05-08 Senate

    Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  9. 2026-05-06 Senate

    Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  10. 2026-05-05 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education

  11. 2026-05-05 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  12. 2026-05-04 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

  13. 2026-05-04 House

    House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  14. 2026-01-29 House

    House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  15. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

Official Summary Text

The act extends the repeal date of the open educational resources grant program and the Colorado open educational resources council (council) to November 1, 2031. The act increases representation from public institutions of higher education on the council from 12 to 15 members.
The act extends the requirement for the department of higher education (department) to prepare and submit an annual report regarding open educational resources to December 31, 2031.
The act appropriates $275,000 to the department for use by the Colorado commission on higher education and higher education special purpose programs.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 26-1016
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Phillips and Taggart, Bacon, Brown,
Camacho, Clifford, Duran, Goldstein, Hamrick, Jackson, Lieder, Lindsay,
Nguyen, Ricks, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Stewart K., McCluskie,
English;
also SENATOR(S) Frizell and Amabile, Bridges, Cutter, Exum, Jodeh,
Kipp, Snyder.
CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
POLICIES, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN
APPROPRIATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-1-134, amend (3)
introductory portion and (3)(c) as follows:
23-1-134. Commission directive -open educational resources -
course notice -report -definitions.
(3) Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-13 6 ( 11 )( a )(I),
on or before October 1, 2021, and on 01 before December 1 each year
theI eafter through December 1, 2026 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER UNTIL
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
DECEMBER 31, 2031, the department shall prepare and shall submit to the
commission, the council, the joint budget committee, and the education
committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor
committees, a report concerning implementation and development of open
educational resources around the state. The department shall work with the
council in preparing the report, and the public institutions of higher
education shall collaborate with the department and council in providing the
information necessary for the report. At a minimum, the report must
include:
(c) The number and percentage of the courses offered by the public
institutions of higher education that nse open educational resources as the
primary resomees for the eomse ARE ZERO TEXTBOOK COST FOR STUDENTS;
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-4.5-103, amend
(l)(a) introductory portion, (l)(a)(II), (l)(a)(IV), (l)(a)(V), and (l)(a)(VI)
as follows:
23-4.5-103. Colorado open educational resources council -
created -duties -report.
( 1) There is created in the department of higher education the
Colorado open educational resources council, which is composed of the
following members:
(a) Twelve FIFTEEN persons from public institutions of higher
education appointed by the executive director as follows:
(II) rhree FOUR library professionals;
(IV) 0ne Two instructional design expert EXPERTS;
(V) One informational technology expert ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGIST;
and
(VI) One administrator Two ADMINISTRATORS;
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 23-4.5-106 as
follows:
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1016
23-4.5-106. Repeal of article.
This article 4.5 is repealed, effective November 1, 2026 NOVEMBER
1, 2031.
SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2026-27 state fiscal year,
$275,000 is appropriated to the department of higher education for use by
the Colorado commission on higher education and higher education special
purpose programs. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based
on an assumption that the department will require an additional 1.0 FTE. To
implement this act, the department may use this appropriation for open
educational resources initiatives.
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1016
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
institutions.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
v~~
Vanessa Reilly
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
runes Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE
APPROVED on r'V\ O Yield i:lwt.-l d, 2.o:L,_,, .,.k-"!", o 0-Cllr,
( ate and Time)
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1016