SB 25-011
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-011: DETECTION COMPONENTS FOR WILDFIR E MITIGATION
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Daugherty
Rep. Weinberg; Brown
Published for: Senate Finance
Drafting number: LLS 25-0335
Fiscal Analyst:
Clayton Mayfield, 303-866-5851
clayton.mayfield@coleg.gov
Version: First Revised Note
Date: March 7, 2025
Fiscal note status: This revised fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, as amended by the Senate
Transportation and Energy Committee.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill allows the Department of Public Safety to establish vendor agreements for the
operation of an AI-integrated camera detection system.
Types of impacts. If appropriations are provided, the bill would affect the following areas starting in
FY 2025-26:
State Expenditures State Transfers
Appropriations. No appropriation is required; however, the General Assembly may choose to appropriate
up to $1,000,000 to the Department of Public Safety in FY 2025-26 to begin a vendor agreement for
wildfire detection components.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
1
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures up to $1,000,000 up to $2,000,000
Transferred Funds
2
up to $1,000,000 up to $2,000,000
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
1
Fund sources for these impacts are shown in the tables below.
2
At the discretion of the General Assembly, funding may be appropriated from the General Fund to the
Fire Technology Cash Fund to fund wildfire detection components authorized by the bill. Page 2
March 7, 2025 SB 25-011
Table 1A
State Transfers
Fund Source
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
General Fund up to -$1,000,000 up to -$2,000,000
Cash Funds up to $1,000,000 up to $2,000,000
Net Transfer $0 $0
Table 1B
State Expenditures
Fund Source
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
General Fund $0 $0
Cash Funds up to $1,000,000 up to $2,000,000
Federal Funds $0 $0
Centrally Appropriated $0 $0
Total Expenditures up to $1,000,000 up to $2,000,000
Total FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Summary of Legislation
The bill authorizes the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) in the Department of
Public Safety (CDPS) to establish vendor agreements for the operation of wildfire detection
components that are artificial-intelligence-enabled. As needed, the CDPS may issue a request for
qualifications from prospective vendors to ensure agreements for the operation of detection
components meet certain criteria. Among these, agreements must provide an interface for fire
agencies and other end-users and ensure end-users are aware of requirements regarding
criminal invasion of privacy. Additionally, the bill creates the Fire Technology Cash Fund, for use
by the CDPS, to pay for vendor agreements. The CDPS may also seek gifts, grants, or donations
to fund the agreement, and must include information about the agreement at the department’s
annual SMART Act hearing.
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March 7, 2025 SB 25-011
Assumptions
The bill authorizes, but does not require, the CDPS to enter into vendor agreements for
detection components, and creates a cash fund to support these agreements. The CDPS may
use gifts, grants, and donations to defray the cost of agreements. Since no source of gifts,
grants, or donations has been identified at this time, the fiscal note assumes that another source
of funding is required for the CDPS to implement vendor agreements. With no other source of
revenue for the Fire Technology Cash Fund identified in the bill, the fiscal note assumes that a
General Fund appropriation to the cash fund is required in order for the DPS to enter into any
vendor agreements.
However, since the bill does not require the CDPS to enter into agreements, it is assumed that
any appropriations to implement these agreements may be made, or not made, at the discretion
of the General Assembly. For informational purposes, the fiscal note estimates the
appropriations, transfers, and expenditures required for the DPS to begin entering into vendor
agreements for the wildfire detection system starting in FY 2025-26. If funding is not provided, it
is assumed that the CDPS will not enter into any vendor agreements.
State Revenue
The bill potentially increases state revenue to the Fire Technology Cash Fund from gifts, grants,
or donations. At this time, no sources have been identified at this time. Gifts, grants, and
donations are exempt from TABOR revenue limits.
State Transfers
If the General Assembly intends to fund the wildfire detection system authorized by the bill,
$1 million in FY 2025-26 and $2 million in FY 2026-27 should be transferred to the Fire
Technology Cash Fund. In future years, transfers will continue based on prior year levels to
continue existing vendor agreements, or will increase if the number of detection components is
expanded. It is assumed that any transfers to the fund will be made via an appropriation from
the General Fund.
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March 7, 2025 SB 25-011
State Expenditures
If the General Assembly intends to fund the wildfire detection system authorized by the bill,
expenditures in the Department of Public Safety will increase by up to $1 million in FY 2025-26
and $2 million in FY 2026-27. Ongoing costs will continue based on prior year levels to continue
any agreements entered into, or will increase if the number of detection components is
expanded. Costs are paid from the Fire Technology Cash Fund.
Starting in FY 2025-26, the CDPS may establish vendor agreements for the operation of wildfire
detection components. A vendor will be selected after requests for qualifications have been
submitted. Once a qualified vendor is selected the CDPS will begin paying the vendor for the
agreement, which is assumed occur in FY 2025-26. Under an agreement, the CDPS will not own
the detection components, but will receive wildfire detection information from the components.
A single detection component is estimated to cost about $50,000 annually, although the exact
amount may vary. The cost estimate above is based on entering into vendor agreements for an
increasing number of detection components, such that in future years approximately 75 to 115
total components will be active. It is assumed the maximum number of detection components
will be based on the amount of funding, if any, transferred to the Fire Technology Cash Fund.
Establishing and monitoring the agreement will increase workload for the CDPS, but the
expected increase is minimal and no additional funding is required for this work.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed.
State Appropriations
For FY 2025-26, the General Assembly may choose to appropriate up to $1,000,000 from the
General Fund to the Fire Technology Cash Fund. Additionally, if this appropriation is made,
another appropriation in the same amount is required from the Fire Technology Cash Fund to
the Department of Public Safety.
State and Local Government Contacts
Information Technology
Personnel
Public Safety
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.