Ballot Measures

Amendment 81 (Inititiave 95) - Law Enforcement Communication with Federal Immigration Authorities - (Vote YES)  Recent legislation (HB23-1100 and SB25-276) placed restrictions on state and local government agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

-- This will require all law enforcement to notify the federal department of homeland security within 72 hours if the person is unlawfully in the US and the person is either charged with a violent crime or have been convicted of a prior felony.

Amendment 82 - Constitutional Right to Purchase Natural Gas - (Vote YES) Several municipalities have banned natural gas in new homes or commercial businesses. (Crested Butte, Lafayette, Boulder, Denver).  70% of homes are heated by natural gas.  Colorado's greenhouse gas goals to reduce greenhouse gas by 100% by 2050 requires the electrification of residential heating.  The PUC created the "Clean Heat Plan" in 12/2025 to reduce natural gas emissions by 41% by 2035 and eliminate all natural gas emissions by 2050.  The impact:  exponential increase in electricity costs.  

--This will establish a right to purchase and sell natural gas for homes and businesses.

Amendment 83 - Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish

Past propositions and amendments have targeted hunting, fishing, wildlife management.  This amendment establishes a constitutional right to hunt and fish.  It states "The policy of the state of Colorado is that hunting and fishing are the preferred means of responsibly managing fish and wildlife populations.   The principles are to protect the ability to sustain life, and to manage wildlife.

Amendment 85 - Mail Ballot Voter Identification

 Currently returned mail ballots require a valid signature to be counted.  In Colorado, illegal immigrants can obtain a regular driver's license.  Federal law does not allow those unlawfully present in the US to obtain a REAL ID.  This will add additional requirements for returning mail ballots  It must include the last four digits of their social security number or a Colorado Real ID driver's license number.  A discrepancy can be corrected by providing (in person or digitally) a US passport, US military ID, or Tribal Photo ID.

Amendment 85 - Plain Language Ballot Titles

Current requirements for ballot titles include that they are written in pain, non-technical language, and be understandable to the average reader.  See most recent law (HB26-1320).  This adds a requirement that ballot questions be in plain language at no more than an eight-grade reading level.

Amendment 86 - Requirements for Off-Cycle Congressional Redistricting

Amends language passed in 2018 (Amendment Y) which established an independent congressional redistricting commission.  Democrats brought several initiatives attempting to redraw the congressional district maps in their favor but the Colorado Supreme Court rejected them because they were not single-subject initiatives.  This repeals and replaces the constitutional language passed in 2018.  Further restricts the commission from dividing communities of interest of purposely favoring a party.  CONCERN:  is that Amendment Y and this amendment rely on a 12-member commission which is called by the governor and "randomly" appoint3ed by a panel of retired judges.  Violates the principles of representativepaced  government (chosen by and accountable to the people) and the separation of powers.

Amendment 87 - Graduated Income Tax

 TABOR require income to be taxed at a flat rate.  In 1987 the current flat rate tax system was adopted and the rate was set at 5%.  Several times the rate has been lowered since then.  Two by the legislature and two by the people.  In 2022 Proposition 121 lowered the tax rate to 4.4%.  From 2021 to 2025 eight states replaced their graduated income taxes with flat rates.  

--Colorado has the 4th highest cost of living in the country.

This will (1) create a progressive/graduated tax structure; (2) removes the mandatory provision of a flat rate income tax from TABOR; (3) Any NEW tax revenue generated will be exempt from TABOR.

Proposition NN:  Keep and Spend Money for Education and Public Purposes

Retains TABOR refunds for the forseeable future!!!!!!!

Creates a children's account in the state general fund

First 10 years:  must spend revenue on K-12 and the rest is available for any purpose!!!

Ensures redistribution tax credits remain available (Family Affordability Tax Credit and the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit).  Ensures local governments receive reimbursements for the homestad exemptions.

Essentially eliminates TABOR refunds and grows the government.

Proposition 132:  Penalties for fentanyl crimes

Fentanyl overdoses have grown in Colorado while the national rate has declined.  Several bills were introduced to strengthen penalties for fentanyl possession and distribution but ALL were stopped by the majority party--democrats.  This Proposition essentially allows for tougher penalties for possession leaving some discretion for judges when possessing lower amounts.  

Proposition 133 - Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor

Current law classified human traffiking of a minor for sexual servitude as a Class 2 felony, punishable by 8-24 years  in prison with mandatory 5 years parole.  Frequently these crimes are pled down and offenders only receive probation.  This proposition mandates a life sentence without paroe (class 1 felony) for anyone convicted of human trafficking of  minor for sexual servitude (buying or selling) 

Proposition 134 - Male and Female Participation in School and Collegiate Sports

In summary, requires all school athletic teams to be designated as male, female, or co-ed according to biological sex.

Proposition 135 - Prohibit surgery on Minors in Response to Perception of Sex/Gender

In summary, prohibits healthcare providers from performing irreversible sex-rejecting surgeries on minors under the age of 18 for the explicit purpose of changing their biological sex.  Prohibits any state funding of sex-altering surgeries ofor minors.  

Proposition 136:  Income Tax Rate  Limit

Places in the statute the requirement that "neither the individual income tax rate nor the corporate income tax rate may exceed 4.4% of a taxpayer's federal taxable income.

Proposition 137 - Direct Sporting Goods Sales Tax Revenue for Conservation The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) receives $90M annually from lottery sales.  With this proposition, sales taxes from specific sales would be diverted to GOCO, wildfire risk mitigation, forest management, watershed projects and outdoor recreation and equity programs.  Of the estimated $175M collected, $83.1M (47.5%) would be go to GOCO, basically doubling their revenue.    Sales taxes collected from the sale of the specific items will be TABOR exempt

.Paso County Ballot Issue 7A:  Front Range Passenger Rail District.

.bloImpacts municipalities in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Huerfano, Jefferso, Larmier, Las Animas, Pueblo, and Weld counties.  Only those in Colorado Springs will have this on their ballot.  Increases sales tax of 0.333% to construct, operate, and maintain the Colorado Connector (CoCo) passenger rail service between Ft Collins and Pue.blo

Ballot Issue 7A:  Front Range Passenger Rail District.

Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) district created in 2021.

• Impacts municipalities in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El paso, Huerfano Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Pueblo, Weld counties.
• Only those living within Colorado Sprigs will have this on their ballot
• Increases sales tax by 0.333% to construct, operate, and maintain the Colorado Connector (CoCo) passenger rail service between Fort Collins and Pueblo.  (exemptions for the additional tax are gas, food, residential electricity and gas, prescription drug and medical supplies.  
• Increases taxes annually by $295M and increases debt to $785M.  
• There is no sunset provisio for this tax.
• This tax is TABOR EXEMPT.
• he train will have 13 stops between Ft Collins and Pueblo with a top speed of 65 mph

Ballot Issue 1A:  Extend Public Safety Sales & Use Tax  

• This tax was created in 2012 with an original sunset of 2021.  Yes - 64%, No - 36%
• Tax was extended to 2029.  Vote yes 72% No - 28%
• Currently generates $40M annually.  The estimate was $17M/year in 2012.
• NOW they want to extend this to 2037.  AND they want to broaden the scope of how they can spend the tax revenue (to include law enforcement needs, criminal justice needs, and emergency response needs).   It will CONTINUE to be exempt from TABOR but the ballot language doesn't tell you that.