First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0335.01 Richard Sweetman x4333
SENATE BILL 25-011
Senate Committees House Committees
Transportation & Energy
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL -INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED101
DETECTION COMPONENTS TO MITIGATE WILDFIRES .102
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 division of fire prevention and control
(division) in the department of public safety (department) to establish
public-private agreements with one or more private partners, by which
agreements the state may allocate responsibility or risk to one or more
private partners to develop and operate wildfire detection components.
The bill also creates the front line innovation and response efficiency cash
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Daugherty,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Weinberg and Brown,
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. fund (FIRE fund) in the state treasury. The money in the FIRE fund is
annually appropriated to the department to be expended by the division
for the purposes of the bill.
In current law, money in the unused state-owned real property fund
is continuously appropriated to the department of personnel for several
purposes, including paying for public-private agreements and associated
costs. Of the money that is appropriated for this purpose, the bill requires
the general assembly to transfer the following amounts to the FIRE fund:
! For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, up to $1,000,000;
! For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $2,000,000; and
! For the 2027-28 state fiscal year, $3,000,000.
The department is required to include information concerning the
division's activities under the bill in the department's annual report to the
legislative subject matter committees.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds that:3
(a) Colorado has experienced a sharp rise in wildfire activity in4
recent years, including the 20 largest fires and the 5 most destructive fires5
in the state's history;6
(b) The growing size, duration, intensity, costs, and impacts of7
wildfires create a dangerous environment that endangers firefighters and8
threatens entire communities;9
(c) In response, the division of fire prevention and control within10
the department of public safety has collaborated with local fire11
departments, counties, and federal partners to develop more effective and12
efficient wildfire preparedness and response strategies;13
(d) These efforts include adopting cutting-edge technologies such14
as wildfire detection cameras that are designed to quickly identify15
potential threats, ensure faster response times, and enhance firefighter16
safety;17
SB25-011-2- (e) So far, the existing network of more than 40 cameras deployed1
across Colorado has proven highly valuable;2
(f) These cameras provide on-demand visual intelligence that3
allows officials to swiftly assess emerging incidents, coordinate with4
jurisdictional agencies, and efficiently direct critical air and ground5
resources to the right locations;6
(g) The integration of wildfire cameras with artificial intelligence,7
or "AI", can play a crucial role in safely and efficiently increasing the use8
of prescribed fires;9
(h) AI-integrated cameras provide multiple vantage points to10
detect and pinpoint fire activity, monitor fires, and support fire managers11
in executing prescribed fire projects; and12
(i) AI technology is an invaluable asset in improving forest health13
and reducing wildfire risks, benefitting communities as well as fire14
management agencies.15
(2) The general assembly therefore declares that the safety of the16
people and property within the state is served by the use of AI-integrated17
cameras by the division of fire prevention and control within the18
department of public safety.19
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-33.5-1218.520
as follows:21
24-33.5-1218.5. Statewide coverage network - definitions -22
public-private agreements - front line innovation and response23
efficiency cash fund - detection components. (1) A
S USED IN THIS24
SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :25
(a) "C
AMERA STATION" MEANS ONE OR MORE CAMERAS AND26
ASSOCIATED HARDWARE THAT ARE CAPABLE OF :27
SB25-011
-3- (I) GENERATING A THREE-HUNDRED-SIXTY-DEGREE PANORAMIC1
VISUAL FEED; AND2
(II) U
TILIZING PAN, TILT, AND TWENTY TIMES OR GREATER ZOOM3
OPERATIONS.4
(b) "D
ETECTION COMPONENT " MEANS AN5
ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED WILDFIRE DETECTION AND6
INTELLIGENCE SOLUTION THAT INCLUDES A COHESIVE , INTERCONNECTED7
COLLECTION OF CAMERA STATIONS , ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DETECTION8
CAPABILITIES, SOFTWARE, AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES .9
(c) "F
UND" MEANS THE FRONT LINE INNOVATION AND RESPONSE10
EFFICIENCY CASH FUND CREATED IN SUBSECTION (5) OF THIS SECTION.11
(d) "P
RESCRIBED FIRE" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION12
29-22.5-102
(7).13
(e) "P
RIVATE PARTNER" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION14
24-94-102
(6).15
(f) "P
UBLIC-PRIVATE AGREEMENT " MEANS AN AGREEMENT16
BETWEEN THE STATE AND ONE OR MORE PRIVATE PARTNERS BY WHICH THE17
STATE MAY ALLOCATE RESPONSIBILITY OR RISK TO ONE OR MORE PRIVATE18
PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE A DETECTION COMPONENT .19
(2) I
N CONNECTION WITH ITS POWERS AND DUTIES CONCERNING20
THE PROTECTION OF AREAS IN THE STATE AT HIGH RISK OF FIRE , THE21
DIVISION SHALL ESTABLISH PUBLIC-PRIVATE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE22
PARTNERS TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE COVERAGE NETWORK OF23
DETECTION COMPONENTS .24
(3) O
N OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025, THE DIVISION SHALL ISSUE25
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM PRIVATE ENTITIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF26
THIS SECTION. THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS MUST SEEK PROPOSALS FOR27
SB25-011
-4- A DETECTION COMPONENT THAT CAN BE PROCURED AS A COMPREHENSIVE1
SERVICE PROVIDED BY A PRIVATE PARTNER TO ENSURE THAT THE2
DEPLOYMENT, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DETECTION3
COMPONENTS ARE PERFORMED BY THE PRIVATE PARTNER .4
(4) A
DETECTION COMPONENT DEPLOYED PURSUANT TO THIS5
SECTION MUST:6
(a) B
E PLACED IN A LOCATION THAT ENABLES TRIANGULATION OF7
CAMERA STATIONS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE PRECISE8
LOCATIONS OF FIRES DETECTED BY THE STATEWIDE COVERAGE NETWORK9
OF DETECTION COMPONENTS ;10
(b) P
ROVIDE A LIVE FEED OF INFORMATION THAT CAN DISCOVER ,11
LOCATE, AND CONFIRM IGNITION OF A FIRE, WHICH FEED REFRESHES AT12
LEAST ONCE PER MINUTE AND IS MONITORED BY AN ARTIFICIAL13
INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF IDENTIFYING WILDFIRE IGNITIONS AT14
A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST TEN MILES;15
(c) M
ONITOR FIRE BEHAVIOR;16
(d) P
ROVIDE ENHANCED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR17
EVACUATION AND FIRE RESPONSE ACTIVITIES ;18
(e) E
NSURE THAT CONTAINED AND PRESCRIBED FIRES ARE19
MONITORED APPROPRIATELY ; AND20
(f) I
NCLUDE A SOFTWARE INTERFACE FOR FIRE AGENCIES AND21
OTHER END USERS THAT ALLOWS FOR REAL -TIME FIRE DETECTION ALERTS,22
THREE-HUNDRED-SIXTY-DEGREE CAMERA STATION VIEWS , AND ZOOM23
CAPABILITY AS WELL AS OTHER NECESSARY MONITORING FUNCTIONALITY .24
(5) (a) T
HE FRONT LINE INNOVATION AND RESPONSE EFFICIENCY25
CASH FUND IS CREATED IN THE STATE TREASURY . THE FUND CONSISTS OF26
MONEY TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND FROM THE UNUSED STATE -OWNED27
SB25-011
-5- REAL PROPERTY FUND PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-82-102.5 (5)(c)(III) AND1
ANY OTHER MONEY THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY APPROPRIATE OR2
TRANSFER TO THE FUND FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION . THE MONEY3
IN THE FUND IS ANNUALLY APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO BE4
EXPENDED BY THE DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION .5
(b) T
HE STATE TREASURER SHALL CREDIT ALL INTEREST AND6
INCOME DERIVED FROM THE DEPOSIT AND INVESTMENT OF MONEY IN THE7
FUND TO THE FUND. ANY MONEY REMAINING IN THE FUND AT THE END OF8
A STATE FISCAL YEAR REMAINS IN THE FUND.9
(c) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,10
GRANTS, AND DONATIONS TO PAY THE COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS11
SECTION. ANY GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS RECEIVED BY THE12
DEPARTMENT SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE FUND .13
(6) I
N ITS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES OF14
REFERENCE PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-7-203, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL15
INCLUDE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DIVISION16
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR .17
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-82-102.5, amend18
(5)(c)(I) introductory portion; and add (5)(c)(III) as follows:19
24-82-102.5. Unused state-owned real property - cash fund -20
legislative declaration - definitions. (5) (c) (I) E
XCEPT AS DESCRIBED IN21
SUBSECTION (5)(c)(III) OF THIS SECTION, the money in the unused22
state-owned real property fund is continuously appropriated to the23
department for:24
(III) O
F THE MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT25
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(c)(I)(B) OF THIS SECTION, THE GENERAL26
ASSEMBLY SHALL TRANSFER THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS TO THE FRONT27
SB25-011
-6- LINE INNOVATION AND RESPONSE EFFICIENCY CASH F UND CREATED IN1
SECTION 24-33.5-1218.5 (5) TO BE EXPENDED BY THE DIVISION OF FIRE2
PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO3
PAY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION4
24-33.5-1218.5:5
(A) O
N JANUARY 1, 2026, FOR THE 2025-26 STATE FISCAL YEAR,6
UP TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS;7
(B) O
N JULY 1, 2026, FOR THE 2026-27 STATE FISCAL YEAR, TWO8
MILLION DOLLARS; AND9
(C) O
N JULY 1, 2027, FOR THE 2027-28 STATE FISCAL YEAR THREE10
MILLION DOLLARS.11
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act12
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the13
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except14
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V15
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this16
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take17
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in18
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the19
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.20
SB25-011
-7-