HB 24-1444 Summary

• Establishes the Indian Boarding School Research Program within the State Historical Society to research the history and impact of federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado, including at least seven schools operated from 1880-1990.

• Requires the State Historical Society to conduct ongoing research, formal tribal consultations, listening sessions with American Indian communities, collect confidential oral histories from survivors, and develop recommendations by November 8, 2025 (preliminary) and May 10, 2027 (final).

• Creates an American Indian Steering Committee with 14 members including tribal representatives, survivors, descendants, and professionals to advise the Society on boarding school research and grave search efforts at school sites.

• Appropriates $333,333 for fiscal year 2024-25 and $333,333 for each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the State Historical Society to fund two full-time employees with American Indian hiring preference.

• Sunsets the program on December 31, 2027, and requires compliance with the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act for handling human remains and artifacts at boarding school sites.