First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0495.01 Anna Petrini x5497
HOUSE BILL 25-1038
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM TO101
PROVIDE STUDENTS PURSUI NG POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION102
WITH INFORMATION ABOUT ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFERS .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
.)
The bill requires the department of higher education (department),
subject to available appropriations, to develop and maintain a free,
publicly accessible online platform (platform) to provide current and
potential students who are pursuing postsecondary education in Colorado
with relevant information about which credits and courses, work-related
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Hamrick,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Marchman,
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. experiences, and prior learning opportunities are transferable to or
between the state's public institutions of higher education (institution).
On or before January 1, 2026, an institution shall submit to the
department for inclusion in the platform:
! A comprehensive record of the institution's most recent
awards of postsecondary transfer credit for all courses that
the institution has identified as having learning outcomes
equivalent to corresponding offerings at other institutions;
and
! Descriptions of work-related experiences or prior learning
opportunities for which the institution awards
postsecondary academic credit.
Using the data provided by an institution, the department shall
include in the platform information about the transferability to or between
institutions for several sources of postsecondary academic credit. These
sources include courses in the statewide common course numbering
system, now referred to as the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, and
credits earned through various standardized tests.
A not-for-profit private institution of higher education may, but is
not required to, submit applicable information for inclusion in the
platform.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-1-125.5 as2
follows:3
23-1-125.5. Department directive - statewide transfer credit4
online platform - funding - definitions. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION,5
UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :6
(a) "A
DVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM " MEANS THE FINAL7
EXAMINATION ADMINISTERED AT THE COMPLETION OF A COURSE THAT8
DELIVERS A COLLEGE-LEVEL CURRICULUM IN A PARTICULAR FIELD OF9
STUDY AND THAT MAY RESULT IN AWARDING POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC10
CREDIT BASED ON THE SCORE ACHIEVED ON THE END -OF-COURSE11
EXAMINATION.12
(b) "C
OLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM EXAM " OR "CLEP13
HB25-1038-2- EXAM" MEANS A STANDARDIZED TEST CREATED AND ADMINISTERED BY1
THE COLLEGE BOARD THAT MAY RESULT IN AWARDING POSTSECONDARY2
ACADEMIC CREDIT BASED ON THE SCORE ACHIEVED . A TEST TAKER WHO3
HAS ACQUIRED COMPREHENSIVE SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH4
INDEPENDENT OR PRIOR STUDY , ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, OR CULTURAL5
PURSUITS MAY DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF COLLEGE -LEVEL6
MATERIAL BY ACHIEVING A CERTAIN SCORE ON THE CLEP EXAM.7
(c) "DANTES
SUBJECT STANDARDIZED TEST" OR "DSST" MEANS8
A CREDIT-BY-EXAMINATION, SUBJECT MATTER TEST ORIGINATED BY THE9
U
NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 'S DEFENSE ACTIVITY FOR10
N
ON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT (DANTES) PROGRAM THAT11
MAY RESULT IN AWARDING POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC CREDIT .12
(d) "G
ENERAL EDUCATION COURSE " MEANS A LOWER-DIVISION13
COURSE OFFERED BY AN INSTITUTION THAT ANY DEGREE -SEEKING14
STUDENT ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE15
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AN ASSOCIATE OR A BACHELOR 'S DEGREE FROM THE16
INSTITUTION.17
(e) "G
UARANTEED TRANSFER PATHWAY MATRIX " MEANS A GROUP18
OF GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES OR LOWER -DIVISION COURSES REQUIRED19
FOR A SPECIFIC PROGRAM AT THE INSTITUTION THAT EVERY STUDENT20
ENROLLED IN THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM AT THE INSTITUTION MUST21
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE IN ORDER TO TRANSFER TO OR FROM AN22
INSTITUTION AND THAT HAS EQUIVALENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AS THE23
SAME LEVEL OF COURSES OFFERED BY ANOTHER INSTITUTION .24
(f) "I
NSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION " OR "INSTITUTION"25
MEANS A STATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS DEFINED IN26
SECTION 23-18-102 (10)(a), A LOCAL DISTRICT COLLEGE CREATED27
HB25-1038
-3- PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 71 OF THIS TITLE 23, OR AN AREA TECHNICAL1
COLLEGE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-60-103.2
(g) "I
NTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE " MEANS A PROGRAM OF3
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION OFFERED TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BY A4
NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THAT MAY RESULT IN AWARDING5
POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC CREDIT .6
(h) "L
OWER-DIVISION COURSE" MEANS A COURSE NUMBERED FROM7
ONE HUNDRED TO TWO HUNDRED NINETY -NINE OR ONE THOUSAND TO TWO8
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY -NINE.9
(i) "R
EVERSE TRANSFER" MEANS A PROCESS THAT PERMITS10
STUDENTS WHO TRANSFERRED FROM A TWO -YEAR INSTITUTION TO A11
FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION TO COMBINE CREDITS AND APPLY THE CREDITS12
TOWARD AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE FROM THE TWO -YEAR INSTITUTION.13
(j) "S
TATEWIDE TRANSFER ARTICULATION AGREEMENT " MEANS AN14
AGREEMENT AMONG ALL OF THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER15
EDUCATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF AN ASSOCIATE OF ARTS OR AN16
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE. A STATEWIDE TRANSFER ARTICULATION17
AGREEMENT APPLIES TO COMMON DE GREE PROGRAMS AND SPECIFIES THE18
COMMON TERMS , CONDITIONS, AND EXPECTATIONS FOR A STUDENT19
ENROLLED IN A STATEWIDE DEGREE TRANSFER PROGRAM .20
(2) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS OR MONEY FROM21
OTHER SOURCES, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP , IMPLEMENT,22
MANAGE, AND MAINTAIN A FREE, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE ONLINE PLATFORM23
TO PROVIDE A CURRENT OR POTENTIAL STUDENT PURSUING24
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN COLORADO WITH RELEVANT25
INFORMATION TO ASSIST THE STUDENT IN UNDERSTANDING WHICH CREDITS26
AND COURSES, WORK-RELATED EXPERIENCES, AND PRIOR LEARNING27
HB25-1038
-4- OPPORTUNITIES, AS AWARDED POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC CREDIT , ARE1
TRANSFERABLE TO OR BETWEEN THE STATE 'S INSTITUTIONS.2
(3) (a) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AN INSTITUTION SHALL3
SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR INCLUSION IN THE ONLINE PLATFORM :4
(I) A
COMPREHENSIVE RECORD OF THE INSTITUTION 'S MOST5
RECENT AWARDS OF POSTSECONDARY TRANSFER CREDIT FOR ALL COURSES6
THAT THE INSTITUTION HAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE INSTITUTION 'S7
CURRENT TRANSFER AND COURSE ARTICULATION PROCESS AS HAVING8
LEARNING OUTCOMES EQUIVALENT TO CORRESPONDING COURSES AT9
OTHER COLORADO INSTITUTIONS; AND10
(II) D
ESCRIPTIONS OF WORK-RELATED EXPERIENCES OR PRIOR11
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHICH THE INSTITUTION AWARDS12
POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC CREDIT , INCLUDING LEARNING13
OPPORTUNITIES FROM WORK -RELATED EXPERIENCE FOR WHICH THE14
INSTITUTION AWARDS POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR COURSES15
IN THE GUARANTEED TRANSFER PATHWAY MATRIX OR A STATEWIDE16
TRANSFER ARTICULATION AGREEMENT DESCRIBED PURSUANT TO SECTION17
23-5-145.5.18
(b) T
O ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION REFLECTED19
IN THE ONLINE PLATFORM , EACH INSTITUTION SHALL UPDATE THE20
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION ON A21
SCHEDULE TO BE ONGOING AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN22
CONSULTATION WITH THE INSTITUTIONS .23
(4) U
SING STATEWIDE DATA PROVIDED BY INSTITUTIONS , THE24
DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ONLINE PLATFORM INFORMATION25
ABOUT THE TRANSFERABILITY TO OR BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS FOR THE26
FOLLOWING SOURCES OF POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC CREDIT :27
HB25-1038
-5- (a) ALL COURSES IN THE GUARANTEED TRANSFER PATHWAY1
MATRIX SYSTEM;2
(b) A
LL COURSES IN STATEWIDE TRANSFER ARTICULATION3
AGREEMENT PATHWAYS ;4
(c) A
LL REVERSE TRANSFER COURSES;5
(d) A
LL ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM CUT -OFF SCORES6
DEMONSTRATING THE LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY REQUIRED FOR A STUDENT7
TO RECEIVE GENERAL EDUCATION CREDIT IN A COURSE IN THE8
GUARANTEED TRANSFER PATHWAY MATRIX ;9
(e) A
LL INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAM CUT -OFF SCORES10
DEMONSTRATING THE LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY REQUIRED FOR A STUDENT11
TO RECEIVE GENERAL EDUCATION CREDIT IN A COURSE IN THE12
GUARANTEED TRANSFER PATHWAY MATRIX ;13
(f) A
LL CLEP EXAM CUT-OFF SCORES DEMONSTRATING THE LEVEL14
OF PROFICIENCY REQUIRED FOR A STUDENT TO RECEIVE GENERAL15
EDUCATION CREDIT IN A COURSE IN THE GUARANTEED TRANSFER16
PATHWAY MATRIX; AND17
(g) A
LL DSST EXAM CUT-OFF SCORES DEMONSTRATING THE LEVEL18
OF PROFICIENCY REQUIRED FOR A STUDENT TO RECEIVE GENERAL19
EDUCATION CREDIT IN A COURSE IN THE GUARANTEED TRANSFER20
PATHWAY MATRIX.21
(5) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A22
STATEWIDE DATABASE TO STORE AND ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION23
OBTAINED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (3) AND (4) OF THIS SECTION TO24
POPULATE THE ONLINE PLATFORM .25
(6) A
PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AS DEFINED IN26
SECTION 23-18-102, MAY, BUT IS NOT REQUIRED TO, SUBMIT APPLICABLE27
HB25-1038
-6- INFORMATION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (3) AND (4) OF THIS SECTION1
FOR INCLUSION IN THE ONLINE PLATFORM .2
(7) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY APPROPRIATE MONEY FROM THE3
GENERAL FUND OR FROM ANY OTHER AVAILABLE SOURCE TO THE4
DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT , IMPLEMENTATION,5
MANAGEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ONLINE PLATFORM . IN6
ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,7
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE8
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.9
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act10
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the11
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except12
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V13
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this14
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take15
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in16
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the17
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.18
HB25-1038
-7-