HB 25-1230
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
HB 25-1230: CHANGES VIOLATION DRIVER OVERTAKING SCHOOL BUS
Prime Sponsors:
Rep. Caldwell; Paschal
Sen. Winter F.
Published for: House Trans., Hous. & Local Gov.
Drafting number: LLS 25-0743
Fiscal Analyst:
Colin Gaiser, 303-866-2677
colin.gaiser@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: February 27, 2025
Fiscal note status: The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill allows state and local governments to install and use automated vehicle identification
systems on school buses to detect drivers illegally passing stopped buses, and creates related penalties.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
Minimal State Workload
Local Government
School Districts
Appropriations. No appropriation is required.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures $0 $0
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Page 2
February 27, 2025 HB 25-1230
Summary of Legislation
Authorization of AVIS on School Buses
The bill permits state and local governments, with school board approval, to install and use
automated vehicle identification systems (AVIS) on school buses to detect when drivers overtake
a stopped school bus with actuated visual signal lights. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of
up to $300.
Presumption of Violation
The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that when an AVIS-produced image includes an
electronic indicator signifying that a school bus's visual signal lights are actuated, the lights are
presumed to be actuated and operational.
Restrictions of Fine Revenue Use
Penalties may not be used to compensate the AVIS manufacturer or vendor, and any payment
to the manufacturer or vendor cannot be based exclusively on the number of citations issued or
revenue generated by AVIS.
Highway with Separate Roadways Definition
Under current law, drivers on highways with separate roadways are not required to stop when
meeting or passing a school bus on a different roadway. The bill clarifies that a “highway with
separate roadways” includes roadway divided by physical barriers but does not include those
separated only by a painted median.
Comparable Crime Analysis
Legislative Council Staff is required to include certain information in the fiscal note for any bill
that creates a new crime, changes the classification of an existing crime, or creates a new factual
basis for an existing crime. The following section outlines crimes that are comparable to the
offense in this bill and discusses assumptions on future rates of criminal convictions resulting
from the bill.
Prior Conviction Data
This bill creates a new factual basis for the existing class 2 misdemeanor offense of overtaking a
school bus by changing the definition of “highway with separate roadways.” From FY 2021-22 to
FY 2023-24, 71 have been convicted and sentenced for this offense. Of the persons convicted,
41 were male and 30 were female. Demographically, 58 were White, 9 were Hispanic, 1 was
classified as "Other," and 3 did not have a race identified. Page 3
February 27, 2025 HB 25-1230
Assumptions
This analysis assumes that changing the definition of “highway with separate roadways” will not
substantially increase or decrease the number of violations; therefore, there will be minimal or
no additional criminal case filings or convictions for this offense under the bill. Because the bill is
not expected to have a tangible impact on criminal justice related revenue or expenditures at
the state or local levels, these potential impacts are not discussed further in this fiscal note. Visit
the Fiscal Note section web page for more information about criminal justice costs in fiscal
notes.
State Expenditures
The bill increases workload in departments involved in road safety materials and enforcement –
including the departments of Public Safety, Revenue, and Transportation – to update materials.
Any workload increase is absorbable with existing resources.
Local Governments and School District
The bill may increase revenue, expenditures, and workload for local governments that elect to
purchase and install AVIS on school buses within their jurisdictions. Workload may increase for
affected school districts to coordinate with local governments on installing and maintaining
AVIS equipment.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.
State and Local Government Contacts
Counties
Judicial
Law
Local Affairs
Municipalities
Public Safety
Revenue
School Districts
Transportation
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.