Colorado 2025 Bills

Front Range Passenger Rail District

Senate Bill 26-172, known as the Front Range Passenger Rail District Act, updates the boundaries and operations of a passenger rail district in Colorado. It expands the district to include new municipalities and metropolitan districts that agree to join, requires future board directors to live within the district's borders starting July 1, 2026, allows for the creation of subdistricts, and changes how election costs are distributed and notified. The bill has been signed into law, meaning its provisions will now be implemented as part of Colorado’s transportation planning and governance.

Last action: 2026-04-20 · Senate

Limit Election of Legislators Who Fill Vacancies

HCR 26-1005 is a bill in Colorado that would change the state constitution to prevent legislators from serving a full term if they were appointed to fill a vacancy for part of that same term. This means someone who steps into an open seat and serves until the next election wouldn't be allowed to run for or serve the remaining term after winning the regular election. The bill needs at least 55% voter approval in the 2026 general election to become law, which means it won't take effect immediately even if passed by voters.

Last action: 2026-04-13 · House

Accessible Language Statutory Ballot Title Requirements

House Bill 26-1320, which has been signed into law, requires that ballot titles for initiative petitions be written in plain language that is easy for most people to understand. This means avoiding complex legal or technical terms and making sure the title clearly explains the main change proposed by the initiative. The bill also allows the required tax-related language to appear anywhere in the ballot title as long as it's substantially similar to what’s currently mandated, rather than strictly at the beginning or end of the title. This law affects voters who will see clearer, more accessible descriptions on their ballots for initiatives and helps ensure that everyone can understand what they are voting on. Since the bill has been signed, it is now in effect and ballot titles going forward must follow these new guidelines.

Last action: 2026-03-04 · House

Modernization of Requirements for Ballot Information Booklet

House Bill 26-1293 updates the requirements for the ballot information booklet used by voters in Colorado. It removes outdated and unnecessary language from the booklet and streamlines its content to make it clearer and more modern. The bill also gets rid of old rules related to a specific fund that was no longer needed after 2010. Since the bill has been signed, these changes are now law and will affect how ballot booklets are created and distributed in future elections.

Last action: 2026-02-25 · House

Authorize Local Electronic Ballot Return

Senate Bill 26-119 allows special districts and municipalities in Colorado to use electronic systems for voters to return their marked ballots securely. This means voters can submit their completed ballots through a secure online system that protects voter privacy and ballot integrity. The bill ensures that these electronic returns are then converted into paper ballots by election officials before being counted, maintaining transparency and security throughout the process. Since the bill has been signed, special districts and municipalities in Colorado now have the option to implement this new method for returning voted ballots electronically.

Last action: 2026-02-20 · Senate

Modification of County Commissioner Elections

HB 26-1203 changes how counties with a population of at least 70,000 elect their county commissioners. If such a county has 3 commissioners, they must be elected by district. For counties with 5 commissioners, the bill requires either all commissioners to be elected from specific districts or three by district and two through ranked voting by all voters in the county. This means that every ten years during census year elections, counties with 3 commissioners will have a vote on whether to increase their board size to 5 and choose an election method. The law also allows voters to change the election method if they gather enough signatures. Home rule counties are exempt if more than half of their commissioners are already elected by district or ranked voting. Since it has been signed, this bill is now a law and will affect how these counties conduct elections in the future.

Last action: 2026-02-11 · House

Opt-out of Mail Ballot Packets for Elections

Senate Bill 26-106 allows voters in Colorado to opt-out of receiving mail ballot packets for future elections starting November 2, 2027. If a voter chooses this option, they can still vote in person or request a mail ballot individually when needed. The bill also requires county clerks to report how many people opted out and the cost savings from not sending those ballots, which will be made public on the Secretary of State’s website. Since it has been signed into law, voters should expect new options for receiving their ballots in future elections.

Last action: 2026-02-11 · Senate

Requirements for Campaign Consultants

House Bill 26-1137 in Colorado sets rules for campaign consultants. It requires these professionals to get written permission from their clients before working against them or helping opposing candidates in the same election. Consultants must also keep client information confidential and can't share it with competitors. This bill is now signed into law, meaning campaign consultants must follow these new guidelines when providing services in Colorado.

Last action: 2026-02-04 · House

Modifications to Elections

HB 26-1113 is a Colorado bill that makes several changes to election laws and procedures. It allows people who are under the supervision of the Department of Corrections but not in prison to vote, expands voter education for college students, and simplifies voting processes by allowing electronic voting systems in counties with over 1,000 active voters. The bill also updates how elections are run when there's a vacancy for a congressional seat or if a presidential candidate dies before the election. It has been signed into law, meaning these changes will now be implemented according to the new regulations outlined in the bill.

Last action: 2026-02-03 · House

Credit Agency Voter Address Verification

House Bill 26-1104 requires Colorado's Secretary of State to annually use a third-party credit bureau to verify the addresses of voters on the statewide voter registration list. This verification excludes participants in the address confidentiality program and confidential voters like first responders. The bill aims to ensure that voter information is accurate by comparing it with data from the credit bureau, which will then report back any discrepancies to county clerks for further action. Since the bill has been signed into law, it means that this process of verifying voter addresses using a credit bureau will now be implemented according to its provisions.

Last action: 2026-02-03 · House

County Mail Ballot Signature Verification Requirements

House Bill 26-1080 changes how Colorado counties verify signatures on mail ballots. Instead of one election judge checking each ballot, a team of bipartisan judges will do the verification to ensure fairness and accuracy. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to create rules for this new process. Since it has been signed into law, counties must now follow these updated procedures for signature verification in mail ballot elections.

Last action: 2026-02-02 · House

Voter Transparency in Ballot Measures

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.

Last action: 2026-02-02 · House

Multiple Elected Offices Prohibited for General Assembly

Senate Bill 26-59 prohibits Colorado state legislators from holding any other elected positions while serving as members of the general assembly, starting with the first regular session of the seventy-sixth general assembly. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as if a legislator is already in their last year of another term or holds certain special district offices. This bill has been signed into law and will affect current and future members of the Colorado General Assembly by limiting their ability to hold multiple elected positions simultaneously.

Last action: 2026-01-28 · Senate

Modifications to Voter Registration

Senate Bill 26-58 changes how Colorado registers voters when they apply for a driver's license or ID card. Instead of automatically registering them as unaffiliated voters, the bill now puts these applications in a "pending status" until the person confirms their choice to be an unaffiliated voter and provides any missing information. If someone doesn't respond within 20 days, their registration is marked inactive unless they vote later on, which then activates it again. County clerks can also mark voters as inactive if they don’t participate in two consecutive general elections. This bill has been signed into law, meaning these changes will now be implemented in Colorado's voter registration process.

Last action: 2026-01-28 · Senate

Colorado Firefighter Safety Act Petition Elections

Senate Bill 26-47, also known as the Colorado Firefighter Safety Act Petition Elections bill, allows voters in local areas to petition for a ballot question that would require their city government to engage in collective bargaining with firefighters and extend safety protections under the Colorado Firefighter Safety Act. This means that if enough residents sign a petition, it can be put on any general or coordinated election ballot, giving voters the chance to decide whether these changes should happen. Since the bill has been signed into law, local governments now have to follow this new process for firefighter-related petitions.

Last action: 2026-01-27 · Senate

Political Party Liability for Accessibility Requirements

House Bill 26-1023 in Colorado ensures that political parties must provide video conferencing or other alternative ways for eligible voters with disabilities to participate in precinct caucuses and party assemblies. If a political party fails to meet these requirements, only the central committee of that party can be sued, not individual members or volunteers. The bill also allows courts to order compliance and impose fines of up to $3,500 per violation if necessary. Since it has been signed into law, this legislation is now enforceable and will impact how political parties in Colorado handle accessibility for their events.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House

County Commissioner Redistricting

HB 26-1038, also known as County Commissioner Redistricting, is a bill that changes how county commissioner districts are drawn in Colorado. It requires boards of county commissioners to create independent commissions to redraw district boundaries and sets new rules for who can serve on these commissions and how they operate. The bill also allows voters to challenge the redistricting plans in court if they disagree with them. Since it has been signed, this means that the changes are now law and will affect how county commissioner districts are redefined going forward.

Last action: 2026-01-14 · House