SB 25-120
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-120: NUCLEAR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & ED PROGRAM
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Liston; Marchman
Rep. Soper
Published for: Senate Appropriations
Drafting number: LLS 25-0765
Fiscal Analyst:
John Armstrong, 303-866-6289
john.armstrong@coleg.gov
Version: First Revised Note
Date: April 9, 2025
Fiscal note status: The revised fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, as amended by the Senate
Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill creates a grant program in the Colorado School of Mines to distribute funds to
institutions of higher education to expand programs related to nuclear energy.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas through FY 2032-33:
State Revenue State Expenditures
Appropriations. No appropriation is required. The Colorado Nuclear Workforce Development and
Education Cash Fund is continuously appropriated to the Colorado School of Mines.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue (Cash Funds – Gifts, Grants & Donations) $500,000 $500,000
State Expenditures (Cash Funds – Gifts, Grants & Donations) $500,000 $500,000
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Page 2
April 9, 2025 SB 25-120
Summary of Legislation
The bill creates the Colorado Nuclear Workforce Development and Education Program in the
Colorado School of Mines. This program provides grants to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) to develop or expand nuclear engineering degree programs.
The bill creates an eleven-member council in the School of Mines to award grants, promote
nuclear energy activities, and provide technical assistance to eligible institutions. The council
consists of energy experts and department representatives appointed by the Governor and
legislative leadership. A third party must be hired to provide support to the council.
Members of the council are not compensated but may be reimbursed for expenses. All
administrative, contracting, and other costs must be paid through gifts, grants and donations.
The council must 42 days after the effective date of the bill and quarterly thereafter.
The bill creates the Nuclear Workforce Development and Education Cash Fund, which may
receive gifts, grants and donations and is continuously appropriated. The School of Mines may
only begin awarding grants to IHEs once the cash fund balance reaches at least $500,000.
The council is repealed on September 1, 2032, following a sunset review.
Assumptions
The provisions establishing the council and grant program do not take effect unless $500,000 in
gifts, grants, and donations has been received. The bill specifies that no General Fund
appropriations may be made for the program. The fiscal note assumes that the council will not
meet and that no administrative expenditures will be incurred until sufficient gifts, grants, and
donations are received. If sufficient funding is not received, the fiscal note assumes that the
program will not be implemented.
State Revenue
The bill may increase state revenue from gifts, grants, and donations to the Nuclear Workforce
Development and Education Cash Fund. At least $500,000 must be received for the program to
be implemented. For informational purposes, the fiscal note indicates $500,000 per year starting
in FY 2025-26, but actual revenue may vary. At the time of writing, no sources of funding have
been identified. The grant program will not be implemented until the balance in the cash fund
balance is at least that amount is received. Gifts, grants and donations are not subject to the
state’s TABOR revenue limit. Page 3
April 9, 2025 SB 25-120
State Expenditures
Conditional upon the receipt of sufficient gifts, grants, and donations, the bill increases state
expenditures in the Colorado School of Mines, paid from the Nuclear Workforce Development
and Education Cash Fund. If funding is received, the program will have costs of at least $500,000
in one fiscal year. For informational purposes, the fiscal note shows program costs if $500,000 in
gifts, grants, or donations is received each year starting in FY 2025-26, as listed in Table 2 and
discussed below. The bill also minimally affects workload the Office of the Governor.
Table 2
State Expenditures
Department of Higher Education
Cost Component
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
Grants to Institutions of Higher Education $450,000 $450,000
Administrative Expenses $50,000 $50,000
Total Costs $500,000 $500,000
Total FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Institutions of Higher Education
The Colorado School of Mines will have an increase in expenditures to convene the council, hire
a third party to support the council, provide technical assistance, and distribute grants to other
institutions of higher education. The fiscal note assumes that the School of Mines will use the
maximum allowable amount to fund administrative expenses, or $50,000 annually.
Other institutions of higher education that apply for grants will have an increase in workload
and expenditures to develop or expand nuclear programs. After accounting for administrative
expenses, $450,000 is available to be spent as grants to institutions.
Governor’s Office
Workload will minimally increase for the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions to make
the required appointment under the bill. This work can be accomplished within existing
appropriations.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed. Page 4
April 9, 2025 SB 25-120
State and Local Government Contacts
Governor's Office
Higher Education
Treasury
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.