Colorado Bill Book

The bill would let towns add application and success fees to renewable energy projects, which could raise costs for developers and possibly for your power bills.

If the bill passes, local officials could collect extra money from renewable projects, which may push higher electricity prices onto households. Watch the debate now before fees become reality.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — Fee adds a new revenue stream without clear oversight.. Local officials gain more money control.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Adds cost barriers for renewable projects.. No new consumer protections added.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Developers and possibly ratepayers pay the fees.. Costs may be passed to households.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Bill does not change existing permitting transparency.. No specific disclosure requirements.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Revenue goes to local government, not private industry.. Neutral tilt toward public funds.

• Official text (CO SB082)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-082
• LegiScan — SB082https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/SB082/2026

This bill would create rules for services that let you access your earned pay early.

If this bill passes, it could help protect people using these services from unfair fees or bad practices. It's important to pay attention now.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Regulation could improve service accountability.. The bill aims to create standards for these services.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Could protect users from unfair fees.. Regulations may limit fees charged by the services.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs are unclear.. It is unknown how costs will be affected.

• Official text (CO HB1046)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1046
• LegiScan — HB1046https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1046/2026

The bill would let families buy school items without paying sales tax, lowering their costs for the school year.

Parents could save money on backpacks, laptops, and clothes, but the state would lose tax revenue that might fund schools, so voters should weigh the trade off now.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No new oversight. N/A
• Rights & Protections (helps) — More buying power. Reduces tax burden
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — State loses revenue. Potential impact on school funding
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard process. Committee review
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Tax cut not funded. No offset

• Official text (CO HB1048)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1048
• LegiScan — HB1048https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1048/2026

This bill would make new rules for selling gun barrels and create a crime for selling them wrong, to help keep people safe.

This bill wants to make it harder for bad people to get gun parts by making new rules for selling firearm barrels. If it passes, people who sell gun barrels would have to follow these new rules, and if they don't, they could get in trouble with the law. Supporters say this is a good way to make our communities safer. But some people might worry that these new rules could make it harder for regular, law-abiding citizens to buy or sell gun barrels.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases accountability for sellers of firearm barrels.. The bill creates a criminal penalty for unlawful sale of a firearm barrel, holding sellers more accountable for following the rules.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Adds new rules for selling firearm parts.. The bill regulates firearm barrel transfers, which could add new steps or limits for people buying or selling these parts, potentially affecting their freedom to transact.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift mentioned.. The official text does not specify new costs shifted to consumers or taxpayers, beyond potential compliance costs for sellers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. The bill is moving through the legislature with public record of its progress.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes mentioned.. The bill does not mention specific funding for or against any group.

Pushing for it: Public safety, potentially law enforcement efforts to reduce crime.
Bearing the cost: Individuals or businesses selling firearm barrels, who might face compliance costs or penalties.

• Official text (CO SB043)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-043
• LegiScan — SB043https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/SB043/2026

This bill would make a state tax on overtime pay happen only in 2026, which could mean less tax for workers later.

This bill would make sure that if Colorado taxes overtime pay, it only happens for one year, in 2026. This means people who work extra hours would not have to pay this special tax in other years. It could help workers keep more of their hard-earned money from overtime. Lawmakers are still deciding if this is the best way to handle taxes on extra work.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No direct impact on accountability.. The bill focuses on tax duration, not oversight or responsibility.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Could protect workers' earnings from ongoing taxation.. By limiting the overtime tax to one year, it would protect future earnings from this specific tax.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Workers would pay less tax in the long run.. If the tax only applies for one year, workers would keep more of their overtime pay in subsequent years, shifting the cost away from them.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. The bill has been introduced and assigned to committees, following typical legislative steps.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Favors overtime earners.. The bill would reduce the state's potential tax revenue from overtime, benefiting individuals who earn overtime.

Pushing for it: Overtime earners in Colorado
Bearing the cost: Colorado state government (less tax revenue)

• Official text (CO SB056)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-056
• LegiScan — SB056https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/SB056/2026

This bill would let builders of affordable homes pay less in taxes, which could mean more places for families to live.

This bill wants to make it cheaper to build homes for people who don't earn much money. If builders pay less in taxes, they might build more affordable apartments. This could help families find a good place to live that they can afford. But, when some properties don't pay taxes, other people or businesses might have to pay a little more to make up the difference, or the city might have less money for other things. People should think about if more affordable homes are worth the possible change in who pays taxes.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. The bill doesn't directly change how accountable anyone is.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps people. It would help create more affordable housing, which supports people's right to a safe home.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Cost shifted. Giving tax breaks means less money for the government, which could lead to other taxpayers paying more or fewer public services.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Neutral. The bill's process is not described as more or less open than usual.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Funds public good. It uses tax breaks to encourage building homes for people with low incomes.

Pushing for it: Developers of low-income rental property
Bearing the cost: Other taxpayers or public services

• Official text (CO HB1066)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1066
• LegiScan — HB1066https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1066/2026

This bill would let veterans with disabilities register vehicles without paying fees, helping them save money.

Veterans deserve support, and this bill would make it easier for them to afford vehicles. Now is the time to show your support for those who served.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Supports veterans financially. The bill provides financial relief for veterans.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Enhances benefits for veterans. Veterans gain access to vehicle registration without fees.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs shifted to the state. The state may lose fee revenue.

• Official text (CO HB1057)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1057
• LegiScan — HB1057https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1057/2026

This bill would make workplaces safer for people, so they don't get hurt while doing their jobs.

This bill wants to make sure people are safe at work and don't get injured. It is important for everyone to have a safe place to earn money. While this bill passed one part of the legislature, it recently faced a vote in the Senate that did not pass with amendments. People who want safer jobs should pay attention as it continues to move through the legislature.

Workers

• Accountability (helps) — Employers would be more responsible for worker safety.. The bill aims to provide 'Protections for Worker Safety', suggesting increased employer responsibility.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Workers would have more protection from harm at work.. The bill's title and summary directly state its purpose is 'Protections for Worker Safety'.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — The bill does not specify who pays for new safety measures.. The official text does not provide details on financial implications or cost allocation for safety measures.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No details provided on how this bill was created.. The provided text does not offer information regarding the transparency of the bill's drafting or public input process.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding details are mentioned in the bill summary.. The official text does not contain any information about specific funding mechanisms or appropriations.

Pushing for it: Workers
Bearing the cost: Employers (potentially for new safety costs)

• Official text (CO HB1054)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1054
• LegiScan — HB1054https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1054/2026

This bill would let older people get a state tax credit, helping them keep more of the money they earn.

This bill would help older people in Colorado keep more of the money they earn by letting them get a state tax credit. Right now, there's an age limit that stops some older workers from getting this money. If this bill passes, more people who work hard could get a little extra help. Some people might worry that this would mean the state has less money for other things. But supporters believe it's fair to give this credit to all working people, no matter their age. Now is the time to tell your lawmakers if you think older workers should get this tax credit.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No direct impact on government accountability.. The bill changes who can get a tax credit, not how the government is held responsible.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands access to a financial benefit for more people.. This bill would let more older workers get the state earned income tax credit, which helps them financially.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — More people could get money back from the state.. The state would give tax credits to more people, meaning more money stays with individuals and less goes to the state budget.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific transparency issues mentioned.. The bill is moving through the normal steps in the legislature.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Helps individuals keep more of their earned money.. By removing the age limit, more people would qualify for a tax credit, putting money back into their pockets instead of going to the state.

Pushing for it: Older workers in Colorado
Bearing the cost: Colorado state budget

• Official text (CO HB1240)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1240
• LegiScan — HB1240https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HB1240/2026

This bill would stop the government from looking at where you have been in the past, protecting your private information.

This bill would protect people's privacy. Without it, the government could get old records of where your phone has been, even if you did nothing wrong. This bill tries to keep that information private. It is important to watch this bill to make sure your location history stays safe from government eyes.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Curbs government overreach. It would stop government groups from getting private location data without a good reason.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects personal privacy. This bill would keep your past location information private from government access.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift. The bill does not say who would pay for anything new.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific transparency rules. The bill does not talk about how transparent the process would be.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. The bill does not mention any money being given or taken away.

• Official text (CO SB070)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-070
• LegiScan — SB070https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/SB070/2026

This bill would make a special day each year to honor farm workers in Colorado, showing we care about their hard work.

This bill would create a special day to celebrate farm workers in Colorado. It's a way for the state to say 'thank you' to the people who grow our food. While it doesn't change any laws about pay or working conditions, it helps shine a light on the important role farm workers play. Some might say it's just a symbolic gesture, but for many, it's a sign of respect and recognition. It's important to support bills that recognize the contributions of often-overlooked groups.

Workers

• Accountability (neutral) — No direct impact on accountability.. This bill is a resolution to celebrate, not to change legal accountability.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Recognizes an important group.. While it doesn't create new legal rights, it formally recognizes farm workers, which can boost morale and public awareness of their contributions.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct financial costs.. The bill is a commemorative resolution and does not involve appropriations or cost shifts.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process for a resolution.. The bill was introduced and passed the House on the same day, which is quick, but common for non-controversial resolutions.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding involved.. The bill does not allocate or reallocate any funds.

Pushing for it: Farm workers (symbolic recognition)
Bearing the cost: No direct financial opposition

• Official text (CO HR1004)https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HR26-1004
• LegiScan — HR1004https://legiscan.com/CO/bill/HR1004/2026