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HB26-1086 • 2026

Adjust Subdivision Access to State Highway System

Current law provides that a person may not submit an application for subdivision approval to a local authority unless the subdivision plan or plat provides that all lots and parcels created by the sub

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Rep. L. Suckla
Last action
2026-02-17
Official status
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Postpone Indefinitely
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effectiveness depends on whether a referendum petition is filed within the specified period.

Adjusting Subdivision Access to State Highways

This bill changes Colorado law so that starting January 1, 2027, people can apply for subdivision approval without requiring all lots and parcels to have direct access to the state highway system.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes a requirement that new subdivisions must provide access to the state highway system before January 1, 2027.
  • Allows local authorities to approve applications for subdivision plans or plats starting from January 1, 2027, even if not all lots and parcels have direct access to the state highway system.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to create new subdivisions.
  • Local authorities responsible for approving subdivision plans or plats.

Terms To Know

Subdivision
A division of land into smaller lots or parcels, often for the purpose of selling individual pieces of property.
Local authority
The government body responsible for making decisions about land use and development in a specific area.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It does not specify what happens to existing subdivisions that do not meet the highway access requirement before January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-17 House

    House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Postpone Indefinitely

  2. 2026-02-02 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Official Summary Text

Current law provides that a person may not submit an application for subdivision approval to a local authority unless the subdivision plan or plat provides that all lots and parcels created by the subdivision will have access to the state highway system. The bill removes this restriction and specifies that, on or after January 1, 2027, a person may submit, and a local authority may approve, an application for a subdivision plan or plat that does not provide that all lots and parcels created by the subdivision will have access to the state highway system.
(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. 26-0510.01 Caroline Martin x5902 HOUSE BILL 26-1086
House Committees Senate Committees
Transportation, Housing & Local Government
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT101
SUBDIVISION PLANS MUST PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE STATE102
HIGHWAY SYSTEM.103
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.)
Current law provides that a person may not submit an application
for subdivision approval to a local authority unless the subdivision plan
or plat provides that all lots and parcels created by the subdivision will
have access to the state highway system. The bill removes this restriction
and specifies that, on or after January 1, 2027, a person may submit, and
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Suckla,
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.
a local authority may approve, an application for a subdivision plan or
plat that does not provide that all lots and parcels created by the
subdivision will have access to the state highway system.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 30-28-133.12
as follows:3
30-28-133.1. Subdivision plan or plat - a ccess to public4
highways.5
BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, no person may submit an application6
for subdivision approval to a local authority unless the subdivision plan7
or plat provides pursuant to section 43-2-147, C.R.S., that all lots and8
parcels created by the subdivision will have access to the state highway9
system in conformance with the state highway access code. ON OR AFTER10
JANUARY 1, 2027, A PERSON MAY SUBMIT, AND A LOCAL AUTHORITY MAY11
APPROVE, AN APPLICATION FOR A SUBDIVISION PLAN OR PLAT THAT DOES12
NOT PROVIDE THAT ALL LOTS AND PARCELS CREATED BY THE SUBDIVISION13
WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.14
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 31-23-214.115
as follows:16
31-23-214.1. Subdivision plan or plat - access to public17
highways.18
BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, no person may submit an application19
for subdivision approval to a local authority unless the subdivision plan20
or plat provides pursuant to section 43-2-147, C.R.S., that all lots and21
parcels created by the subdivision will have access to the state highway22
system in conformance with the state highway access code. ON OR AFTER23
JANUARY 1, 2027, A PERSON MAY SUBMIT, AND A LOCAL AUTHORITY MAY24
HB26-1086-2-
APPROVE, AN APPLICATION FOR A SUBDIVISION PLAN OR PLAT THAT DOES1
NOT PROVIDE THAT ALL LOTS AND PARCELS CREATED BY THE SUBDIVISION2
WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.3
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 43-2-147, amend4
(1)(b) as follows:5
43-2-147. Access to public highways - definitions.6
(1) (b) Vehicular access to or from property adjoining a state7
highway shall be provided to the general street system, unless such access8
has been acquired by a public authority. Police, fire, ambulance, and other9
emergency stations shall have a right of direct access to state highways.10
After J une 21, 1979, BUT BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, no person may11
submit an application for subdivision approval to a local authority unless12
the subdivision plan or plat provides that all lots and parcels created by13
the subdivision will have access to the state highway system in14
conformance with the state highway access code. ON OR AFTER JANUARY15
1, 2027, A PERSON MAY SUBMIT, AND A LOCAL AUTHORITY MAY APPROVE,16
AN APPLICATION FOR A SUBDIVISION PLAN OR PLAT THAT DOES NOT17
PROVIDE THAT ALL LOTS AND PARCELS CREATED BY THE SUBDIVISION WILL18
HAVE ACCESS TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.19
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act20
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the21
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August22
12, 2026, if adjour nment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a23
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the24
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act25
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect26
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in27
HB26-1086-3-
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the1
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.2
HB26-1086-4-