Colorado 2026 Sunset Reviews Released: Celebrating 50 Years of Sunset Reviews in Colorado

The Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) celebrates 50 years of Colorado's sunset reviews by releasing the 2026 sunset reports.

"This year marks 50 years of Colorado trailblazing the sunset review process. These comprehensive reports provide the General Assembly recommendations that are based on consistent criteria and robust, inclusive feedback," Patty Salazar, Executive Director of DORA, said. "Colorado was the first state in the nation to adopt the sunset process, which has been modeled by many other states, and our state continues to strive to remain on the forefront of evidence-based regulatory reform."

During a sunset review, COPRRR analysts conduct a comprehensive review of a state program and then produce a report with recommendations for legislative changes to the Colorado General Assembly. This year, COPRRR conducted 14 sunset reviews.

2026 Sunset Highlights

• Eliminating a Blue Law: Prohibitions on the sale of motor vehicles on Sundays, commonly referred to as "Blue Laws," have already been eliminated in many other states. COPRRR recommends that Colorado also repeal this prohibition. Doing so will allow businesses to sell motor vehicles on any day of the week.
• Eliminating Regulatory Burden: Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses have already demonstrated competency. Considering this, the additional 750 hours of mentored experience that is required to gain full prescriptive authority is overly restrictive, and COPRRR recommends repealing it.
• Streamlining Government: By combining DORA's radon licensing program with CDPHE's state radon education and outreach program, the General Assembly would create administrative efficiencies and strengthen the state's education and enforcement efforts to reduce unhealthy indoor radon levels, which contribute to the number of Coloradans who suffer from lung cancer.
• Sunset Recommendations: COPRRR recommends repealing the following: the Wildfire Mitigation Incentives for Local Governments Grant Program because it has not been funded since 2022; the Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board because it is redundant; and the Artificial Intelligence Impact Task Force because it has completed its assigned tasks.

The Colorado General Assembly created the sunset process in 1976 to improve state regulation by streamlining existing programs, enhancing consumer protection, and repealing unnecessary programs and government functions. Since then, Colorado's sunset process has gained national recognition and is routinely highlighted as a best practice as states seek more efficient, effective regulation.

"Stakeholder input is a vital part of the sunset process," said Brian Tobias, COPRRR Director. "We thank everyone who participated in this year's reviews and encourage continued participation for future reports."

The complete sunset reports have been shared with the Colorado General Assembly and are available online at coprrr.colorado.gov.

The following summarizes COPRRR's 2026 recommendations.

Sunset Reviews

Asbestos Control Act
The Asbestos Control Act establishes the framework for the regulation of asbestos abatement. The Air Quality Control Commission and the Air Pollution Control Division in the Department of Public Health and Environment are responsible for enforcing the Asbestos Control Act. The sunset review makes several recommendations, including continuation.

Civil Rights Division and Commission
The Civil Rights Division in the Department of Regulatory Agencies investigates claims of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and advertising, and the Civil Rights Commission, among other things, adopts rules and considers appeals to decisions by the Civil Rights Division. The sunset review recommends that the General Assembly continue the Civil Rights Division and Commission, and it also recommends several other changes to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

Digital License Plates
Similar to metal license plates that are currently used in all states, a digital license plate is an electronic device that displays a vehicle registration number on a screen, and the Department of Revenue is granted rulemaking authority for the use of digital license plates in Colorado. The sunset review recommends continuation.

Domestic Violence Offender Management Board
The Domestic Violence Offender Management Board is a 19-member body housed in the Department of Public Safety. Among other things, it adopts statewide standards for the evaluation and treatment of domestic violence offenders, and it publishes a list of approved treatment providers. The sunset review recommends that it be continued.

Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative
The Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative, housed in the Department of Local Affairs, provides grant funds and small business loans to organizations and businesses so that future crimes and recidivism may be prevented in areas that experience high crime rates. The Initiative serves North Aurora, Southeast Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Trinidad. While the sunset review recommends continuation, it also recommends that the agency take steps to improve the Initiative in these four regions and determine whether, in fact, it reduces crime rates.

Regulation of Motor Vehicle and Powersports Vehicle Sales
The entities and individuals who manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicles and powersports vehicles are regulated by the Department of Revenue and the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. This year's sunset review recommends continuing the program, along with several other recommendations.

Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act
The State Board of Nursing in the Department of Regulatory Agencies oversees licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, certified midwives and certified nurse aides. The sunset report makes several recommendations that, among other things, reduce unnecessary regulatory requirements, expand board membership and continue the regulation of nurses and nurse aides.

The Radon Measurement and Mitigation Act
Radon is carcinogenic, and smokers are especially susceptible to lung cancer when exposed to certain levels of indoor radon. To provide radon measurement or mitigation services, the Radon Measurement and Mitigation Act requires professionals to be licensed by the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations. The sunset review recommends several changes to enhance the regulatory program, such as combining it with the state radon program in the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Wildfire Mitigation Incentives for Local Governments Grant Program
The Wildfire Mitigation Incentives for Local Governments Grant Program, administered by the State Forest Service, provides funds to local governments to help support long-term wildfire mitigation projects in certain, high-risk areas. However, because it is no longer funded, the sunset review recommends sunsetting this program.

Advisory Committee Sunset Reviews

Artificial Intelligence Impact Task Force
The Artificial Intelligence Impact Task Force, a legislative statutory committee, was charged with exploring issues and making recommendations to protect consumers and workers from being harmed by artificial intelligence and automated detection systems. As the task force has completed its work and is no longer meeting, the sunset review recommends sunsetting it.

Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board
The Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board in the Department of Education was established to create pathways between high schools and institutions of higher learning to increase the number of post-secondary degrees earned by Coloradans and to decrease the high school dropout rate. While the board has performed a valuable function for the state, its role is now redundant. COPRRR recommends sunsetting it.

Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board
The Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board in the Department of Law was created to capture the number of fatal domestic violence crimes in Colorado. Its mission is to improve the state's approach to domestic violence, especially those incidents that result in fatalities. No other state agency conducts systematic identification and analysis of domestic violence fatalities that seeks to understand why these deaths occur and what could have prevented them. Since it fulfills a critical function for the state, the sunset review recommends continuation.

Environmental Justice Advisory Board
The Environmental Justice Advisory Board in the Department of Public Health and Environment helps in the development of guidelines for the Environmental Justice Grant Program, which funds environmental mitigation projects in disproportionately impacted communities throughout the state. It also advises and supports the Environmental Justice Ombudsperson. The Advisory Board continues to address longstanding inequities, so the sunset review recommends continuation.

Nurse-Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Health Care
The Nurse-Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Health Care in the Division of Professions and Occupations was established to promote public safety and improve health care in Colorado by supporting collaboration and communication between the practice of nursing and the practice of medicine. As it is an important asset to the state, the sunset review recommends continuation.