2025 Legislative Wrap Up

 

The 2025 legislative session adjourned on May 7 with the General Assembly having considered over 650 bills.  The LWVCO Legislative Action Committee’s (LAC) citizen lobbyists followed 125 bills in total.  Of those, we supported 87 bills, with 79% percent passed and signed by the Governor.  Conversely, LWVCO opposed 17 bills; 14 of those failed and one was vetoed by the Governor.  LWVCO also worked to amend a few bills including SB 077 – Modifications to the Colorado Open Records Act, HB 1265 Modification of County Commissioner Elections, HB 1312 – Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals, HB 1315 – Vacancies in the General Assembly, and HB 1319 – County Commissioner Vacancies.

In the case of HB 1315 and HB 1319, LAC lobbyists had extensive communication with the bill sponsors regarding our desired amendments and provided committee testimony illustrating our arguments.  In the end, the amendments were not incorporated but we believe we raised important issues that may need to be addressed in the future.  In the case of SB 077, the amendments offered by LAC lobbyists and other stakeholder groups were not accepted.  While the bill was ultimately passed by the General Assembly, the Governor shared LWVCO’s concerns about the potential for this bill to reduce transparency and the public’s access to information and vetoed the bill.  The General Assembly considered overriding the veto, LWVCO helped lobby against overriding, and the veto held.

Finally, LWVCO kept in close communication with the stakeholder community in regard to the amendments made to HB 1312.  The bill was successfully amended and, as a result, LAC voted to adopt a strongly support stance on this bill, which was passed by the General Assembly at the end of the session.

2026 Articles

 

Graduated Income Tax Proposed Ballot Initiative

Toni Larson, February 2026

Background
The process for placing a statewide initiative on the ballot is governed by the Colorado Constitution (Article V, Section 1) and state law  (Articles 40 and 41 of Title 1, C.R.S.). The Secretary of State and the Legislative Council have adopted rules to implement certain provisions of the constitution and state law, and the Colorado Supreme Court has decided cases relating to the initative process that interpret the constitution and state law. ¹

The Office of Legislative Legal Services and Legislative Council Staff joint prepare written comments on each proposal to review the wording of an initiative with the proponents so that the initiative accomplishes the proponents' intent and gives the public notice that a proposal on a given topic is under consideration.²

Read the full article here.

 

2026 Testimony

SB26- Modify Colorado Open Records Act
Amending

State Committee on State, Civic Military, and Veterans Affairs

Madam Chairperson and members of the committee:

Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Linda Hutchinson and I represent the League of Women Voters of Colorado. The League has been nonpartisan for all of its 106 years. The League of Women Voterss approved an amend stance for Senate Bill 107, Modivications to Colorado Open Records Act.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1001 Housing Developments on Qualifying Properties
SUPPORT

Dear Members of the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee:

My name is Kathy Smith, and I am a Volunteer Lobbyist with the League of Women Voters of Colorado's Legislative Action Committee. I am writing in support of HB26-1001 on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Colorado.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-095 Measures to Support Victim-Survivors of Crimes
SUPPORT

Chair: Senator Weissman
Vice Chair: Senator Roberts
Representatives Carson, Daugherty, Hinrichsen, Wallace, Samora, Wilson

Mr. Chair and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

My name is Sheryl Kallivrousis. I am a volunteer lobbyist for the League of Women Voters Colorado regardging SB26-0-95. The League is an organization fully committed to equal rights, equal opportunity, social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans. We urge you to vote YES on SB26-095.

Read the full testimony here.

---

 
HB26-018 Legal Protections for Dignity of Minors
SUPPORT

Chair: Representative Mabrey
Vice Chair: Representative Carter
Representatives Bacon, Clifford, Espenoza, Flanell, Carcia, Keltie, Slaugh, Soper, Zokaie

Mr. Chair and Members of the House Judiciary Committee:

My name is Sheryl Kallivrousis. I am a volunteer lobbyist for the League of Women Voters Coloardo regarding SB26-018. The League is an organization fully committed to equal rights, equal opportunity, social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans. We urge you to vote YES on SB26-018.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1012 Consumer Protections to Promote Fair Market Pricing
SUPPORT

Dear Chairman Mabrey and House Judiciary Committee Members:

My name is Katharine Ebersberger and I am a Volunteer Lobbyist with the League of Women Voters of Colorado's Legislative Action Committee. I urge you on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Colorado to vote YES on HB26-1012.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1058 Protections for Minors Featured in Digital Content
SUPPORT

Chair: Senator Weissman
Vice Chair: Senator Roberts
Representatives Carson, Daugherty, Hinrichsen, Wallace, Zamora Wilson

Mr. Chair and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

My name is Sheryl Kallivrousis. I am a volunteer lobbyist for the League of Women Voters Colorado regarding HB26-1058. The League is an organization fully committed to equal rights, equal opportunity, social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.  We urge you to vote YES on HB26-1058.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1128 Limitation on Gender Trasnition Procedure Claims
OPPOSE

Chair: Representative Wilford
Vice Chair: Representative Clifford
Representatives Bottoms, Bradley, Carter, Espenoza, Feret, Froelich, Luch, Mguyen, Ricks

Madam Chair and Members of the House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee:

My name is Sheryl Kallivrousis. I am a volunteer lobbyist for the e League of Women Voters Colorado regarding HB26-1128. The League is an organization fully committed to equal rights, equal opportunity, social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans. We urge you to vote No on HB26-1128.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1052Rights for Victims of Certain Crimes
SUPPORT

Chair: Senator Weissman
Vice Chair: Senator Roberts
Representatives Carson, Daugherty, Hinrichsen, Wallace, Zamora, Wilson

Mr. Chair and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

My name is Sheryl Kallivrousis. I am a volunteer lobbyist for the League of Women Voters Colorado regarding HB26-1052. The League is an organization fully committed to equal rights, equal opportunity, social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans. We urge you to vote YES on HB26-1052.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1038 County Commissioner Redistricting - Amend

House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, Monday Feb 2, 1:30

Sponsors: Rep. Amy Paschal, Sen. Marc Snyder

Good afternoon Madame Chairperson and members of the committee.

My name is Holly Monkman and I am speaking on behalf o f the League of Women Voters of Colorado. The League is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters of Colorado recommends an Amendment to HB 1038.

The League has long sought to end gerrymandering and favors independent redistricting commissions. One example was our enthusiastic effort to bring Amendments & and Z to the voters in 2018, which passed with over 70% voter approval.

Read the full testimony here.

---

HB26-1010 Older Adult Support & Representation in Workforce Summary
SUPPORT

Chair: Representative Ricks
Vice Chair: Representative Camacho
Representatives Brooks, English, Gonzalez, Keltie, Lieder, Mabrey, Marshall, Mauro,
Richardson, Rydin, and Suckla

Madam Chair and Members of the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee:

My name is Sheryl Kallivrousis. I represent the League of Women Voters Colorado
regarding HB26-1010. The League is an organization fully committed to equal rights,
equal opportunity and social and economic justice for all Americans. We urge you to
vote YES on HB26-1010.

Read the full testimony here.