Colorado’s 2026 Fiscal Situation and the Ballot
Chris Stiffler
SENIOR ECONOMIST
Amendment 71 (“Raise the Bar”) 2016�
What Measures Generate New Revenue or Free Up General Fund Dollars during Rebate Years�
Only TABOR-Related Issues in Odd Years
2024 Bottom of Ballot
2025 Bottom of Ballot
Amendment G —property tax exemption for disabled veterans
Amendment H — Judicial discipline system overhaul
Amendment I — Denial of bail in Murder Cases
Amendment J — Remove same-sex marriage ban language Amendment K — Modify election deadlines
Amendment 79 — Constitutional right to abortion
Amendment 80 — Constitutional right to school choice
Proposition 127 — Ban trophy hunting of cats
Proposition 128 — Longer parole eligibility timelines Proposition 129 — Expand veterinary professional roles Proposition 130 — Funding package for law enforcement Proposition 131 — Open primaries + ranked-choice voting Proposition JJ — Keep sports betting tax revenue for water Proposition KK — Excise tax on firearms/ammunition sales
Proposition LL — Allowed the state to retain and spend additional revenue for the Healthy School Meals for All program.
Proposition MM — Increased taxes on higher-income households (generally $300k+ earners) by tightening deduction caps
What’s Already Qualified for 2026 Ballot
Penalties for Fentanyl #85
This ballot measure would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl-related offenses in Colorado, including making possession of fentanyl a felony and imposing harsher sentences for manufacturing, distribution, and sale.
Today:
Someone caught with a few pills → likely charged with a misdemeanor → may get treatment + probation
Under new law:�Same person, same pills → felony → potential prison time + lifelong felony record
What’s Already Qualified for 2026 Ballot
Law Enforcement Reporting to Federal Authorities #95
This ballot measure would amend the Colorado Constitution to require state and local law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities within 72 hours when someone charged with a violent crime or with a prior felony may not be lawfully present in the U.S., overriding current limits on such cooperation.
What’s Already Qualified for 2026 Ballot
Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor #108
This ballot measure would increase penalties for human trafficking of a minor by making it a Class 1 felony and requiring life in prison without parole for those convicted.
Human trafficking of a child is a Class 2 felony in Colorado. The ballot measure would make it a Class 1 felony.
What’s Already Qualified for 2026 Ballot
Male/Female Participation in School Sports #109
This ballot measure would require students to participate in school sports based on their biological sex (as defined at birth), whereas current Colorado law generally allows participation based on gender identity.
What’s Already Qualified for 2026 Ballot
Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors #110
This ballot measure would prohibit healthcare providers from performing or providing gender-transition surgeries or certain irreversible medical procedures for minors, restricting access to gender-affirming care that is currently permitted under existing medical practice and state law.
A minor seeks gender-affirming treatment.
Today:� → Works with doctors + parents� → May access medically recommended care (depending on case)
If passed:� → Certain treatments (especially surgical/irreversible)� Not allowed, regardless of doctor/parent agreement
Other Measures Still Could Make 2026 Ballot
#232 Income Tax Rate Cap at 4.4%
#195 Graduated Income Tax
Colorado’s constitution literally says that if conflicting ballot measures both pass, the one with the greatest number of affirmative votes prevails
Other Measures Still Could Make 2026 Ballot
Initiative #177 would add a constitutional “right to natural gas,” guaranteeing consumers and businesses the ability to purchase natural gas for cooking and heating and restricting state or local governments from banning or substantially impairing that access.
Initiative #308/309 estimates how much of Colorado’s retail sales come from sporting goods, applies the state sales tax rate, and diverts that portion of existing revenue to conservation and wildfire funding.
Other Measures Still Could Make 2026 Ballot
Initiative #175
This measure requires that all state revenue generated from motor vehicles—such as fuel taxes, vehicle-related sales taxes, and registration-related revenue—be used exclusively for road transportation purposes. It directs that funding to roads, highways, bridges, safety improvements, and the state patrol, limiting the use of those funds for transit or other non-road transportation programs.
HB26-1430 would counteract
Other Measures Still Could Make 2026 Ballot