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HB26-1016 • 2026

Continuation of Open Educational Resources Program

The bill extends the repeal date of the open educational resources grant program and the Colorado open educational resources council (council) from November 1, 2026, to November 1, 2031. The bill incr

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. J. Phillips
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation incorrectly states that the bill increases the number of council members from 12 to 15. The official source does not provide this information, and it is unclear if such an increase was proposed or enacted.

Continuation of Open Educational Resources Program

This bill extends the open educational resources grant program and council until November 1, 2031, increases the number of council members from 12 to 15, and requires annual reports on these resources until December 31, 2031.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the repeal date for the open educational resources grant program and the Colorado Open Educational Resources Council from November 1, 2026, to November 1, 2031.
  • Increases the number of members on the council from 12 to 15.
  • Requires annual reports about open educational resources in the state until December 31, 2031.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Colorado Department of Higher Education
  • Public institutions of higher education in Colorado

Terms To Know

Open Educational Resources (OER)
Free educational materials that can be used, shared, and modified by anyone.
Colorado Open Educational Resources Council
A group of people who work together to support the use of open educational resources in Colorado's higher education system.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how funding for the program will be provided.
  • It is unclear if there are any changes to the content or format of the annual reports beyond extending their requirement period.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 House

    House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  2. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

Official Summary Text

The bill extends the repeal date of the open educational resources grant program and the Colorado open educational resources council (council) from November 1, 2026, to November 1, 2031. The bill increases the membership of the council from 12 to 15 members.
Under current law, the department of higher education prepares and submits an annual report regarding open educational resources in the state. The bill extends the requirement for this report from its current end date of December 1, 2026, to December 31, 2031.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0668.02 Veronica Parish x2606 HOUSE BILL 26-1016
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES101
POLICIES.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill extends the repeal date of the open educational resources
grant program and the Colorado open educational resources council
(council) from November 1, 2026, to November 1, 2031. The bill
increases the membership of the council from 12 to 15 members.
Under current law, the department of higher education prepares
and submits an annual report regarding open educational resources in the
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Phillips,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
state. The bill extends the requirement for this report from its current end
date of December 1, 2026, to December 31, 2031.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-1-134, amend (3)2
introductory portion and (3)(c) as follows:3
23-1-134. Commission directive - open educational resources4
- course notice - report - definitions.5
(3) Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-1366
(11)(a)(I), on or before October 1, 2021, a nd on or before December 17
each year thereafter through December 1, 2026 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER8
UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2031, the department shall prepare and shall submit9
to the commission, the council, the joint budget committee, and the10
education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or11
any successor committees, a report concerning implementation and12
development of open educational resources around the state. The13
department shall work with the council in preparing the report, and the14
public institutions of higher education shall collaborate with the15
department and council in providing the information necessary for the16
report. At a minimum, the report must include:17
(c) The number and percentage of the courses offered by the18
public institutions of higher education that use open educational resources19
as the primary resources for the course ARE ZERO TEXTBOOK COST FOR20
STUDENTS;21
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-4.5-103, amend22
(1)(a) introductory portion, (1)(a)(II), (1)(a)(IV), (1)(a)(V), and (1)(a)(VI)23
as follows:24
23-4.5-103. Colorado open educational resources council -25
HB26-1016-2-
created - duties - report.1
(1) There is created in the department of higher education the2
Colorado open educational resources council, which is composed of the3
following members:4
(a) Twelve FIFTEEN persons from public institutions of higher5
education appointed by the executive director as follows:6
(II) Three FOUR library professionals;7
(IV) One TWO instructional design expert EXPERTS;8
(V) One informational technology expert ACADEMIC9
TECHNOLOGIST; and10
(VI) One administrator TWO ADMINISTRATORS;11
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 23-4.5-10612
as follows:13
23-4.5-106. Repeal of article.14
This article 4.5 is repealed, effective November 1, 202615
NOVEMBER 1, 2031.16
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act17
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the18
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August19
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a20
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the21
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act22
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect23
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in24
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the25
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.26
HB26-1016-3-