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HB26-1420 • 2026

Wind Energy Facilities Light-Mitigating Technology

In 2022, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 22-110, concerning a requirement that a wind-powered energy generation facility be equipped with light mitigating technology (technology), to require

Energy Technology
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Rep. A. Paschal, Rep. C. Richardson, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. R. Pelton, Rep. C. Barron, Rep. J. Caldwell, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. A. Flanell, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. D. Johnson, Rep. R. Keltie, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. T. Story, Rep. R. Weinberg, Rep. D. Woog, Sen. J. Coleman
Last action
2026-06-04
Official status
Governor Signed
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.

Wind Energy Facilities Light-Mitigating Technology

In 2022, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 22-110, concerning a requirement that a wind-powered energy generation facility be equipped with light mitigating technology (technology), to require an owner or operator of a new wind-powered energy generation facility (facility) to install technology at the facility and to obtain federal aviation administration (FAA) approval before installing the technology.

What This Bill Does

  • In 2022, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 22-110, concerning a requirement that a wind-powered energy generation facility be equipped with light mitigating technology (technology), to require an owner or operator of a new wind-powered energy generation facility (facility) to install technology at the facility and to obtain federal aviation administration (FAA) approval before installing the technology.
  • An owner or operator of a facility can request from the governing body of the local government in which the facility is located an extension of up to 24 months to install the technology.
  • The act requires the owner or operator of a facility to also obtain federal communications commission (FCC) approval for installation of the technology and requires that a governing body of a local government grant an owner or operator of a facility an extension of time to install the technology if FAA, FCC, or other federal agency approval is delayed.
  • The act also requires that an extension of time granted by the governing body of a local government is at least 24 months in duration.

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.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-04 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-06-03 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-06-03 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-06-03 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-05-07 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-05-06 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-05-04 Senate

    Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-05-01 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy

  9. 2026-04-30 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. 2026-04-29 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  11. 2026-04-28 House

    House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  12. 2026-04-21 House

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

Official Summary Text

In 2022, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 22-110, concerning a requirement that a wind-powered energy generation facility be equipped with light mitigating technology (technology), to require an owner or operator of a new wind-powered energy generation facility (facility) to install technology at the facility and to obtain federal aviation administration (FAA) approval before installing the technology. An owner or operator of a facility can request from the governing body of the local government in which the facility is located an extension of up to 24 months to install the technology.
The act requires the owner or operator of a facility to also obtain federal communications commission (FCC) approval for installation of the technology and requires that a governing body of a local government grant an owner or operator of a facility an extension of time to install the technology if FAA, FCC, or other federal agency approval is delayed. The act also requires that an extension of time granted by the governing body of a local government is at least 24 months in duration.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 26-1420
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Paschal and Richardson, Barron, Caldwell,
Clifford, Duran, Flanell, Jackson, Johnson, Keltie, McCormick, Smith,
Story, Weinberg, Woog;
also SENATOR(S) Kolker and Pelton R., Coleman.
CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR LIGHT-MITIGATING
TECHNOLOGY THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED AT CERTAIN
WIND-POWERED ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 38-30.7-106, amend
(1) and (2); and add (5)(c.5) as follows:
38-30.7-106. Wind-powered energy generation facilities
inclusion of light-mitigating technology -requirement - enforcement -
definitions.
(I) (a) Subject to subsection (l)(b) of this section and subject to
approval from the FAA, THE FCC, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE FEDERAL
AGENCY, for the installation of approved light-mitigating technology, for
any new wind-powered energy generation facility that is subject to local
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.
government land-use permitting requirements pursuant to section 29-20-108
or is owned by an independent power producer, and for which the owner or
operator of the new facility begins vertical construction of the first wind
turbine included within the facility on or after April 1, 2022, the owner or
operator shall install light-mitigating technology at the new facility.
(b) The owner or operator of a new wind-powered energy generation
facility subject to subsection (l)(a) of this section, within six months after
the facility receives a determination ofno hazard from the FAA, shall:
(I) Apply to the FAA, THE FCC, AND any other applicable federal
agency 01 both, for the installation of approved light-mitigating technology;
and
(II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION, within
twenty-four months after receiving FINAL approval from the FAA, THE FCC,
AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE FEDERAL AGENCY, in accordance with
subsection ( 1 )(b )(I) of this section, and subject to the availability of
light-mitigating technology from the manufacturer or supplier, install, test,
and commence operation consistent ~ith FAA 1eqt1irements 01 other
applicable fedetal agency requirements, of the light-mitigating technology
at the new facility, CONSISTENT WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE FAA, THE
FCC, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE FEDERAL AGENCY.
(2) (a) The owner or operator of a wind-powered energy generation
facility may seek an extension of time from the governing body of the local
government IN WHICH THE WIND-POWERED ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY
IS LOCATED OR WILL BE LOCATED to comply with subsection ( 1) of this
section. AN EXTENSION OF TIME GRANTED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION (2)(a)
MUST BE for a period of up-to AT LEAST twenty-four months. THE
GOVERNING BODY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY GRANT A LONGER
EXTENSION AND MAY GRANT ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS IF WARRANTED.
(b) The governing body of the local government shall grant the
request FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME if:
(I) The owner or operator can demonstrate that, despite the owner's
or operator's exercise of commercially reasonable efforts, the av ailabiliey of
light-mitigating • technology THE OWNER'S OR OPERA TOR'S ABILITY TO
COMPLY WITH SUBSECTION ( 1) OF THIS SECTION WITHIN THE TIME FRAME
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1420
AFFORDED WAS constrained BY the owner's 01 operator's nbilicy to comply
with subsection ( 1) of this section in the time fi ame affu1 ded. Av AILABILITY
OF LIGHT-MITIGATING TECHNOLOGY OR BY OTHER DOCUMENTED
CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE OF THE OWNER'S OR OPERATOR'S CONTROL; OR
(II) FINAL APPROVAL FROM THE FAA, THE FCC, OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE FEDERAL AGENCY IS DELA YEO.
( c) A board shall not impose any penalties against the owner or
operator pursuant to subsection (3) of this section during the extension
period granted.
(5) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(c.5) "FCC" MEANS THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.
SECTION 2. Applicability. This act applies to applications and
requests for extension of time that are pending on or after the effective date
of this act.
SECTION 3. 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 26-1420
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
institutions.
Ju~~
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
v~~
Vanessa Reilly
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
or
James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE
R OF THE S A E OF COLORADO
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1420