HB 26-1084

HB 26-1084, also known as Voter Transparency in Ballot Measures, is a bill that requires ballot titles for statewide measures increasing state expenditures to include specific details about which major programs will be cut if the measure passes. This means voters will see clear information on how proposed spending increases might reduce funding in three of the largest areas of state spending. The bill also mandates that voter guides provide an estimate of these financial impacts. Since it has been signed, this law is now active and affects all future ballot measures in Colorado that propose increased state spending without a specified revenue source or spending reduction plan.

Official Summary

The bill requires that certain language appear in the ballot title for an initiated statewide measure that would increase state expenditures but does not identify and provide for a sufficient source of revenue or sufficient reductions in state spending for specific public services or program areas to account for the increased expenditures (measure that increases state expenditures). The ballot title for a measure that increases state expenditures must include language identifying the 3 largest program areas of state expenditures for which state expenditures will likely be reduced if the measure passes, which must be in a format substantially similar to the following language: '... will likely reduce state expenditures for program areas that include (the 3 largest areas of program expenditure) by an estimated (projected dollar figure of reduction to those areas in the first full fiscal year that the measure will cause the reduction) ...'. If the ballot measure specifies the public services or programs that are to be reduced, those public services or programs must be stated in the ballot title.     The bill also requires the ballot information booklet entry for a measure that increases state expenditures to include a description of the measure's likely projected effect on the 3 largest areas of program expenditure of the state. and      The bill modifies existing statutory language to mirror this change these changes .(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.)

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