SB13-025: Colorado Firefighter Safety Act

• Establishes collective bargaining rights for firefighters in Colorado municipalities, special districts, and fire authorities that employ 24 or more firefighters.

• Requires public employers to meet and confer with firefighters upon request regarding safety, equipment, and non-compensatory matters; full collective bargaining requires voter approval through a petition process requiring 5% of signatures from last general election.

• Prohibits firefighters from striking but establishes an impasse resolution process using advisory fact-finders to recommend settlements when negotiations deadlock after 30 days.

• Creates dispute resolution mechanism where unresolved issues can be submitted to registered electors for a special election choosing between the final offers of the employer or employee organization.

• Allows existing collective bargaining agreements and relationships to remain in effect; home rule cities with charter language providing collective bargaining are exempt from the new statewide framework.