America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission

The bill adds the following 4 5 members to the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission (commission), to be appointed by the governor:

• 2 members representing Indigenous communities who are members of a federally recognized tribe with historic ties to Colorado that is not the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe or the Southern Ute Indian Tribe;
• One member who is an expert in disability history or is working for a disability rights organization;
• One member representing military and veterans affairs; and
• One at-large member.

The bill also directs the commission and history Colorado to hold any gifts, grants, or donations in the America 250 - Colorado 150 cash fund (cash fund). The bill requires the transfer of $250,000 from the general fund to the cash fund. The bill modifies the cash fund so that all money in the cash fund may be used to support the following duties of the commission:

• Providing community grants to communities across the state to assist recipient communities with providing local opportunities related to commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood; and
• Developing and promoting plans for statewide recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026, including but not limited to:
• Historical activities;
• The creation and publication of historical documents;
• Cooperation with agencies responsible for the preservation or restoration of historic sites, buildings, art, and artifacts;
• Educational opportunities for Colorado youth to understand their historic roots in the United States and Colorado;
• The promotion of scholarship and research that illuminates the history of the American west and Colorado within the larger story of the United States;
• The arrangement of appropriate public ceremonies; and
• Commemorative events, supported by a comprehensive marketing and tourism campaign.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)