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HB26-1034 • 2026

Modifications to Standards for Irrigation Equipment

House Bill 23-1161 established environmental standards an environmental standard for irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies that are sold or leased in the state on and after January 1, 2026

Agriculture Water
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Rep. D. Johnson, Rep. M. Lukens, Sen. N. Hinrichsen, Sen. R. Pelton, Rep. C. Barron, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Garcia Sander, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. R. Gonzalez, Rep. R. Keltie, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. B. Marshall, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. K. Stewart, Rep. R. Taggart, Rep. R. Weinberg, Rep. S. Woodrow, Sen. M. Catlin, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. D. Roberts, Sen. C. Simpson
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Modifications to Standards for Irrigation Equipment

House Bill 23-1161 established environmental standards an environmental standard 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) .

What This Bill Does

  • House Bill 23-1161 established environmental standards an environmental standard 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 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.
  • (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.)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

L.001

HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Passed [*]

Plain English: HB1034_L.001 HOUSE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources.

  • HB1034_L.001 HOUSE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources.
  • HB26-1034 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 2, line 3, strike "(10) and".
  • 2 Page 2, strike lines 7 through 9.
  • 3 Page 3, lines 5 and 6, strike "amend (5)(k); and".
L.002

SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources

Passed [*]

Plain English: HB1034_L.002 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

  • HB1034_L.002 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
  • HB26-1034 be amended as follows: 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 2, strike line 3 and substitute "(10), (38), 2 (47), and (62) as follows:".
  • 3 Page 2, after line 6 insert: 4 "(10) "Check valve" means a component that is internal to a spray 5 sprinkler body and prevents system drainage during periods of 6 nonoperation.".
  • 7 Page 2, after line 17 insert: 8 "(47) "Pressure regulator" means a device that maintains constant 9 operating pressure immediately downstream from a spray sprinkler body, 10 given higher pressure upstream of the device.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  2. 2026-03-26 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

  3. 2026-03-25 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  4. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee

  5. 2026-03-19 Senate

    Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  6. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources

  7. 2026-02-23 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  8. 2026-02-20 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  9. 2026-02-19 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

  10. 2026-02-18 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  11. 2026-02-12 House

    House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  12. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

House Bill 23-1161 established
environmental standards

an environmental standard
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 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.
(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.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 26-1034
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Johnson and Lukens, Barron, Duran,
Garcia Sander, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Keltie, Lindsay, Marshall, Nguyen,
Stewart K., Taggart, Woodrow, McCluskie, McCormick, Rutinel, Smith,
Weinberg;
also SENATOR(S) Pelton R. and Hinrichsen, Catlin, Exum, Kipp, Roberts,
Simpson, Coleman.
CONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR
CERTAIN IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-102, repeal (10),
(38), (47), and (62) as follows:
6-7.5-102. Definitions.
As used in this article 7.5, unless the context otherwise requires and
except as determined by rule pursuant to section 6-7.5-106 (1):
(10) "Check valve" means a component that is internal to a spray
sprinkler body and prevents system drainage during periods of
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
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.
nonoperation.
(38) "Irrigation controller" means a standalone controller, an add-on
device, or a plug-in device that is used to operate an automatic irrigation
system such as a lawn sprinkler or drip irrigation system designed and
intended for nonagricultural purposes. "Irrigation controller" includes:
(a) A soil moisture-based irrigation controller that inhibits or allows
an irrigation event based on a reading from a soil moisture sensor
mechanism; and
(b) A weather-based irrigation controller that uses current weather
data as a basis for scheduling irrigation.
(47) "Pressure regulator" means a device that maintains constant
operating pressure immediately downstream from a spray sprinkler body,
given higher pressure upstream of the device.
(62) "Spray sprinkler body" means the exterior case or shell of a
sprinkler designed and intended for nonagricultural uses, which case or
shell:
(a) Incorporates a means of connection to the piping system; and
(b) Is designed to convey water to a nozzle or orifice.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-104, repeal
(1)(j.7) and (1)(n) as follows:
6-7.5-104. Scope and applicability.
(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section and as further specified
in section 6-7.5-105, this article 7.5 applies to the following products sold
as new in Colorado:
(j.7) Irrigation controllers;
(n) Spray sprinkler bodies;
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-7.5-105, repeal
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1034
(5)(h) and (5)(k) as follows:
6-7.5-105. Standards - effective dates.
(5) On and after January 1, 2026, a person shall not sell, offer to sell,
lease, or offer to lease any of the following new products in Colorado unless
the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the following efficiency
standards, as applicable:
(h) Irrigation controllers must comply with the following
requirements:
(I) Weather-based irrigation controllers included within the scope
of the WaterSense program product specification for weather-based
irrigation controllers must meet the water efficiency and performance
criteria and other requirements for that specification; and
(II) Soil moisture-based irrigation controllers included within the
scope of the WaterSense program product specification for soil
moisture-based irrigation controllers must meet the water efficiency and
performance criteria and other requirements for that specification.
(k) Spray sprinkler bodies that are not specifically excluded from the
scope of the WaterSense program product specification for spray sprinkler
bodies must include an integral pressure regulator and a check valve and
must meet the water efficiency and performance criteria and other
requirements of that specification.
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date -
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the
general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,
2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3)
of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or
part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will
not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be
held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1034
(2) This act applies to conduct occurring on or after the applicable
effective date of this act.
____________________________ ____________________________
Julie McCluskie James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
____________________________ ____________________________
Vanessa Reilly Esther van Mourik
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1034