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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REREVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the Second House
LLS NO. 26-0461.01 Sarah Lozano x3858 HOUSE BILL 26-1034
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Agriculture & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR101
CERTAIN IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT.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.)
House Bill 23-1161 established environmental standards for
irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies that are sold or leased in
the state on and after January 1, 2026, and are not specifically excluded
from the federal WaterSense program (program).
The bill repeals the environmental standard for irrigation
controllers. The bill also modifies the environmental standard for spray
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 25, 2026
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 24, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
February 23, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
February 19, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Johnson and Lukens, Barron, Duran, Garcia Sander, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Keltie,
Lindsay, Marshall, McCluskie, Nguyen, Stewart K., Taggart, Woodrow
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Pelton R. and Hinrichsen, Catlin, Coleman, Exum, Kipp, Roberts, Simpson
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.
sprinkler bodies to:
! No longer require that spray sprinkler bodies include a
check valve; and
! Require that spray sprinkler bodies are certified to the
program, rather than requiring that spray sprinkler bodies
meet the water efficiency and performance criteria of the
program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-102, repeal2
(10), (38), (47), and (62) as follows:3
6-7.5-102. Definitions.4
As used in this article 7.5, unless the context otherwise requires5
and except as determined by rule pursuant to section 6-7.5-106 (1):6
(10) "Check valve" means a component that is internal to a spray7
sprinkler body and prevents system drainage during periods of8
nonoperation.9
10
(38) "Irrigation controller" means a standalone controller, an11
add-on device, or a plug-in device that is used to operate an automatic12
irrigation system such as a lawn sprinkler or drip irrigation system13
designed and intended for nonagricultural purposes. "Irrigation14
controller" includes:15
(a) A soil moisture-based irrigation controller that inhibits or16
allows an irrigation event based on a reading from a soil moisture sensor17
mechanism; and18
(b) A weather-based irrigation controller that uses current weather19
data as a basis for scheduling irrigation.20
(47) "Pressure regulator" means a device that maintains constant21
operating pressure immediately downstream from a spray sprinkler body,22
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given higher pressure upstream of the device.1
(62) "Spray sprinkler body" means the exterior case or shell of a2
sprinkler designed and intended for nonagricultural uses, which case or3
shell:4
(a) Incorporates a means of connection to the piping system; and5
(b) Is designed to convey water to a nozzle or orifice.6
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-104, repeal7
(1)(j.7) and (1)(n) as follows:8
6-7.5-104. Scope and applicability.9
(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section and as further10
specified in section 6-7.5-105, this article 7.5 applies to the following11
products sold as new in Colorado:12
(j.7) Irrigation controllers;13
(n) Spray sprinkler bodies; 14
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-105, repeal15
(5)(h) and (5)(k) as follows:16
6-7.5-105. Standards - effective dates.17
(5) On and after January 1, 2026, a person shall not sell, offer to18
sell, lease, or offer to lease any of the following new products in Colorado19
unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the following20
efficiency standards, as applicable:21
(h) Irrigation controllers must comply with the following22
requirements:23
(I) Weather-based irrigation controllers included within the scope24
of the WaterSense program product specification for weather-based25
irrigation controllers must meet the water efficiency and performance26
criteria and other requirements for that specification; and27
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(II) Soil moisture-based irrigation controllers included within the1
scope of the WaterSense program product specification for soil2
moisture-based irrigation controllers must meet the water efficiency and3
performance criteria and other requirements for that specification.4
(k) Spray sprinkler bodies that are not specifically excluded from5
the scope of the WaterSense program product specification for spray6
sprinkler bodies must include an integral pressure regulator and a check7
valve and must meet the water efficiency and performance criteria and8
other requirements of that specification.9
10
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date -11
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following12
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the13
general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,14
2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 115
(3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section,16
or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part17
will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election18
to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the19
date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.20
(2) This act applies to conduct occurring on or after the applicable21
effective date of this act.22
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