BROOMFIELD, Colo. — The Broomfield City and County Council on Feb. 11 heard a legislative update from staff and voted to adopt formal positions on three state bills that staff said could directly affect the city’s authority, budget and planning work.

Staff recommended and the council approved an opposed position on House Bill 25-1056 (local government permitting for wireless telecommunications facilities), an opposed-unless-amended position on House Bill 25-1169 (housing developments on faith and educational land, commonly called “YIGBY”), and an amend position for Senate Bill 25-030 (increase transportation mode choice, reduce emissions). Council votes were 9-0 to oppose HB 25-1056, 7-2 to oppose HB 25-1169 unless amended, and 9-0 to seek amendments to SB 25-030.

The update was presented by Danae Brugliard, director of strategic initiatives and governmental affairs, who told council the city’s bill tracker lists 36 bills that staff believe directly affect Broomfield. Brugliard said staff brings items to council when they identify a significant local impact and recommended positions on the three bills under consideration. “It does create an unfunded mandate,” Brugliard said of the transportation bill, citing concerns about the time and cost to create a repository and capture the specific data the bill would require.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the bills could limit local control or impose new unfunded tasks. Staff emphasized that some bills include new duties without accompanying state funding and that certain bills would change permitting timelines or limit municipal review of developments on particular types of privately owned land.

What staff identified and council acted on

- HB 25-1056 (local government permitting — wireless telecommunications). Staff recommended an opposed position, describing the measure as one that would prioritize telecom permits and start a statutory approval “shot clock” when a carrier indicates intent to place facilities. Brugliard said the bill would limit local review and place priority on telecom permits over other utilities. The council voted unanimously, 9-0, to take an opposed position.

- HB 25-1169 (housing on faith and educational land, “YIGBY”). Staff recommended an "oppose unless amended" position, asking that local governments retain the ability to deny use-by-right development where infrastructure does not support it. Brugliard summarized the draft as establishing a use-by-right for certain developments on land owned by places of worship, school districts and universities, and said the bill currently includes a three-story height limit but removes local approval processes. Council voted 7-2 in favor of the staff recommendation to oppose unless amended.

- SB 25-030 (increase transportation mode choice, reduce emissions). Staff recommended an amend position and asked council to authorize staff to work with the bill sponsors on manageable changes. Brugliard and transportation staff raised concerns that the bill, as drafted, would require local governments of Broomfield’s size to build and maintain a centralized repository of multimodal data — an unfunded requirement that may duplicate or override local planning cycles. Council approved the amend position 9-0.

Council discussion repeatedly returned to two themes: preserving local control and limiting unfunded mandates. Council members asked staff about the practical impacts — for example, how the city would gather or pay for new data collection — and emphasized the need to work with sponsors to rewrite measures so the city could comply without diverting resources from local priorities.

Actions taken

- Motion: take an opposed position on House Bill 25-1056 (local government permitting wireless telecommunications facilities). Outcome: approved, 9-0.

- Motion: take an oppose-unless-amended position on House Bill 25-1169 (housing developments on faith and educational land). Outcome: approved, 7-2.

- Motion: take an amend position on Senate Bill 25-030 (increase transportation mode choice, reduce emissions). Outcome: approved, 9-0.

Next steps: Staff said it will continue monitoring the legislative session, update the public bill tracker maintained with law firm Bowditch & Cassell (as referenced in staff materials), and return to council if a bill’s language or fiscal impact changes materially.

Ending: Council members and staff urged ongoing engagement with bill sponsors. Brugliard told council the tracker will be updated as bills move through the state system and that staff will pursue amendments or coordination when necessary.