Voices For Justice: Colorado General Assembly’s 2026 Legislative Session Update
Guided by The Colorado Council of Churches’ (CCC) social policy statements, Voices For Justice (VFJ) advocates have followed a large number of bills in the Colorado Assembly during the first three months of the 2026 legislative session. In addition to tracking important legislative initiatives, VFJ members have communicated CCC’s positive or negative positions to lawmakers through email notes and testimonies in committee hearings.
Also, VFJ voices joined those of other advocates on Faith and Justice Lobby Day at the State Capitol. On March 23, eight of us visited with our representatives and senators in support of priority bills. Such action is our witness to the CCC mission to promote dignity and foster communities reflecting God’s love and justice.
Sponsors of the many bills that are still being considered by the General Assembly welcome the advice of community advocates. As you review the work of the Assembly at this point, please consider if there are bills you would like to support or oppose and let your representative or senator know your opinion. You can learn the sponsors of each bill at the following website: https://leg.colorado.gov/. Just type in the bill number to learn more about the bill and its sponsors.
At this point in the legislative session several bills supported by VFJ have passed out of the Assembly and have been signed by the Governor. Specific bills being tracked by VFJ are described below.
Affordable Housing
Colorado Council of Churches supports legislation to provide, build and create affordable housing, especially for low-income persons. Colorado lawmakers are making such legislation a priority. In the 2026 legislative session the first bill introduced in each house fit this CCC mission. HB26-1001 allows nonprofits such as school districts, state colleges, and housing authorities to build affordable housing on land they own. SB26-001allows a county to spend property tax revenue in its general fund for housing authorities and workplace housing. Both bills have been passed and have been signed by the governor!
Also, a third bill related to affordable housing (HB26-1013) has been signed by the Gov. Polis. This legislation allows landlords to provide fair billing for renters’ utilities based upon a formula. Smaller units within a residence could have less utility cost than larger units.
Other bills still under consideration include, allocating funds from appropriate sources for low-income housing development (SB26-040), exempting properties owned by local housing authorities from property taxes (HB26-1204), and defining and permitting assistance animals in housing for individuals with disabilities (HB26-1045). HB26-1224 establishes and clarifies financial protections for mobile home park residents. The bill which would regulate landlords’ ability to terminate tenancy and govern how much landlords can increase annual registration fees was actively
supported by VFJ members on Faith and Justice Lobby Day. Most of these proposals do not require large state expenditures, an advantage with this year’s budget crunch.
Criminal Justice and Restorative Justice
Personal privacy rights are becoming an important issue as technology enables automated mass surveillance; SB26-070 Ban Government Access Historical Location Information Database and SB26-071 Use of Surveillance Technology by Law
Enforcement provide technology guardrails and restrict use. Two bills have passed and have been signed by the governor. HB26-1020 Colorimetric Field Drug Tests in Drug Possessions requires that when a colorimetric field drug test is used, a peace officer can’t arrest the person. Instead, the peace officer shall issue a summons because of the high rate of false positives in the test. HB26-1064 Youthful Offender System Updates upgrades the treatment of juvenile offenders with behavioral health disorders.
Other bills under consideration are:
- HB26-1037 Ban Government Purchase of Personal Data from Third Party protects individual privacy by prohibiting a government entity from the purchase of personal data from a third party.
- HB26-1103 Report Child Sexual Assault & Courtroom Testimony protects juvenile
privacy in courtroom testimony.
SB26-115 Post-Conviction Relief for Certain Offenders provides relief for individuals who have served 20-year prison sentences for crimes committed as a juvenile or old age.
SB26-036 Prison Population Management Measures addresses prison overcrowding.
These efforts reflect Colorado’s commitment to individual privacies and advancing equity and justice within the criminal justice system. There is much work by lawmakers still to be done in the final month of the 2026 session. VFJ will continue to track and advocate for bills reported here as they make their way through the legislative process. Most important, too, is a Call to Action, to inform our state representatives and senators of our engagement as Christians to assist in the formation of public policy that promotes.
Education of Children
Bills of VFJ interest have focused on affordable housing for educators and protection of rights for students with disabilities and other protected classes. SB26-139, Local Education Provider Workforce Housing, would use funds from interest and investments of the Education Fund to fund grants to school divisions to build or renovate affordable rental housing for educators.
SB26-125, Disability Rights Protections in Public Schools, seeks to ensure protection for students with disabilities and other protected categories against discrimination in schools. In addition, passage of SB26-135, State Public K-12 Education Funding, would put a referendum on the November 2026 ballot allowing the state to set aside a portion of any excess funds collected beyond the TABOR cap to be put into a special fund. This fund would be used to reduce impact of Homestead real estate deduction on counties and used by schools to raise teacher pay and reduce class sizes. These funds could also be used for health care and public safety.
Environment
Our faith calls us to responsible stewardship of the earth. This year’s legislative efforts toward such environmental stewardship are numerous. They include making solar energy (HB26-1007) more accessible with resources like balcony solar panels. Also, enhancing the energy grid is being addressed (HB26-1225). Protecting clean energy options such as better battery after-life management (SB26-003) is being considered. Data centers which rely on heavy energy and water use are being addressed with one proposal (SB26-102) to set up guardrails and require clean, renewable energy for their power. Another bill that opens the door more fully for data centers (HB 26-1030) remains active though it may lack the support it needs.
Efforts to protect from pollution are found in two bills, one that limits rodentcide (SB26-062) use and another bill that prohibits plastic discharge from preproduction activity into land and or state waters (SB26-016). In-person testimony in committee in support of SB26-016 by VFJ was much appreciated by sponsors of this bill.
Under consideration in the Senate as well, is a new fee to be paid with vehicle registration that would fund wildlife roadway crossings to protect wildlife from collisions (SB26-141). Renewable energy development (HB26-1268) will be allowed on disturbed lands if this bill (now in the Senate) moves forward. Practices that seek to support pollinators are being pursued with legislation now in the House Appropriations Committee (HB26-1132).
Bills to lower goals for carbon reduction (SB26-022) and to reduce renewable energy options (SB26-028) have not succeeded. VFJ testified against SB26-028 which failed in committee. So, amid budget limitations, positive steps toward environmental stewardship are being actively pursued by Colorado lawmakers and supported by VFJ.
Healthcare
Six bills that align with the Colorado Council of Churches’ health care social policy have been introduced into the 2026 General Assembly. SB26-032 which expands access to vaccines and authorizes state agencies to rely on guidance from well-known medical professional organizations in addition to federal departments was signed by the Governor last week (3/27).
Other bills still under consideration include:
- HB26-1018 – Requiring an individual being discharged from a nursing facility to
be presumptively eligible for long-term services and supports under Medicaid - HB26-1044 – Establishing measures to improve maternal health equity
- HB26-1063 – Expanding Medicaid reimbursement for opioid treatment programs
and petition filing requirements related to emergency mental health holds - HB26-1096 – Allowing Coloradans enrolled in Medicaid the option to purchase
primary care services or enter into a primary care agreement - HB26-1139 – Putting guardrails on the use of AI to ensure that health care
remains human-centered and that decisions involving coverage, medical needs,
and treatment are made by human physicians exercising their professional
judgment and ethical reasoning.
Immigration
CCC promotes legislation that calls us to treat one another with hospitality and compassion, especially when someone is a “stranger.” Near the beginning of the 2026 session, on Feb. 2, sponsoring legislators held a press conference to announce a
package of three immigration-related bills to be introduced.
The first of these bills to be introduced was SB26-005 which allows a person whose constitutional rights have been violated during an immigration enforcement to sue a federal immigration officer for damages. VFJ strongly supports this bill and testified this support in the bill’s hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting consideration in the House.
The second of these three bills (HB26-1276) has a number of sections that “clean up” an important immigration bill passed in 2025 (SB25-276). One section of the bill would expand the scope of inspections made by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at facilities where immigrants are detained. VFJ testimony in committee focused its faith-based support on remedying the very poor conditions in these facilities.
The third bill (HB26-1275) did not pass out of committee. This bill would have prohibited state and local “peace officers” from wearing masks and required identification of the officers. Legal issues and enforcement of such a law were at the root of its lack of sufficient support by members of the House Judiciary Committee.
Poverty
The General Assembly is adding provisions that support the Colorado Council of Churches’ principles to address poverty. They include bills:
- HB26-1005 – Eliminating the requirement for unions to hold a second election
- HB26-1267 – Expanding protections from garnishment by medical creditors
- SB26- 002 – Providing income-qualified electric utility customers with a basic amount of electricity needed for essential living at an affordable rates.
Racism
We’re currently following one piece of legislation: HB26-1141. As indicated by its fiscal note, the bill “defines discriminatory education practices in schools and allows individuals to file complaints with the Colorado Civil Rights Division alleging discrimination in public schools and in institutions of higher education. The bill also requires the institutions to establish a process to receive complaints of discrimination and designate a person to coordinate complaints for the school.” The main purpose of this bill is to create a stopgap measure for civil rights enforcement at the state level given the dismantling of the federal U.S. Department of Education.
Sexuality, Families and Abuse.
Most bills this year for families are dedicated to protective care and rights for children and youth. Notably, one bill (HB26-1024) raises the age of voluntary relinquishment of a newborn and also gives the mother a chance to change her mind. Other bills provide children and youth with clarity, legal protections and rights of their own that previously were controlled solely by adults.
Support for Veterans and Military Families
Support for veterans and military families remains a top priority in Colorado. Legislative proposals such as SB26-067 and SB26-096 aim to provide tuition assistance and establish deferred sentencing for veterans, respectively. These initiatives reflect Colorado’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by military members and their families.
