New Laws Affecting Construction Industry

The Colorado General Assembly did not pass any major construction laws in its recent 2026 legislative session, but it did pass laws affecting landscape contractors, roofing contractors, and tax-exempt sales of certain construction and building materials. It also began laying the groundwork for extreme temperature protections for workers. This article discusses HB26-1034, HB26-1272, SB26-001, and SB26-155.

• HB26-1034 repeals the strict water and energy efficiency standards previously applicable to irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies installed by landscape contractors. 

• HB26-1272 requires the state Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (Division) in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to begin collecting data about temperature-related injury or illness or temperature-related emergencies at worksites by January 15, 2027. The Division is further charged with developing a platform on the CDLE’s website where users can report temperature-related injury or illness or temperature-related emergencies and with developing a model temperature-related injury and illness prevention plan (TRIIPP) to be made available to the public on its website by July 1, 2028.

• SB26-001. Under existing law, a sales and use tax exemption applies to all sales of construction and building materials to contractors and subcontractors for use in the building, erection, alteration, or repair of structures, highways, roads, streets, and other public works owned and used by the federal government or the state government and its political subdivisions in their governmental capacities.  Applicable to contractors, SB26-001 clarifies that the definition of “governmental capacities” includes the building, erection, alteration, or repair of structures for workforce housing projects undertaken by counties.

• SB26-155 creates a program to provide grants to Colorado homeowners to retrofit residential property with resilient roofs to reduce insurer losses due to hail and windstorms. The program is to be administered by the new Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise, which will award grants to eligible homeowners. To be eligible for the grant, homeowners must select a contractor licensed in the state that meets specific statutory and regulatory requirements. A contractor that is awarded bids and receives grant money from the grant program is also prohibited from waiving homeowner’s insurance deductibles.

If you have questions about these new laws or their effect on your construction business or project, contact BHGR’s Construction Group today. 

This article is informational only. The presentation or use of this information does not in any manner constitute an attorney-client relationship between BHGR and the website user. While the information on this site concerns legal issues, it is not intended as legal advice and is not a substitute for particularized advice from your own legal counsel.