Welcome to Capitol Week In Review, our newsletter where we’ll cut through the noise to bring you clear, timely updates on what’s moving and what it means for educational equity and efforts to increase opportunities for Colorado families.
Get this newsletter in your inbox every week:
Priority legislative update
Our justice reform agenda is gaining traction as one of our priority bill advances through the legislative process.
HB26- 1232 Court Costs Assessed to Juveniles would prohibit Colorado courts and the state from assessing or collecting administrative fees, costs, and surcharges against juveniles involved in the justice system or their parents, guardians, or legal custodians. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary on Monday, March 23 at 1:30pm.
Legislation of Interest
SB26-135 State Public K-12 Education Funding would refer a 2026 ballot measure asking voters to allow the state to retain revenue above the TABOR spending limit equal to the amount spent on K-12 public education, while also protecting the Family Affordability Tax Credit in Colorado. If approved, the state could use those retained funds to increase K-12 funding by up to 2% annually for 10 years, with districts required to spend the additional money on priorities such as teacher pay, teacher retention, smaller class sizes, and expanded career and technical education (CTE). By including education funding in the official ‘math,’ the state also ensures that spending more on schools doesn’t accidentally trigger a cut to this tax credit. This bill passed the Senate Finance Committee with a vote of 6-3 and is awaiting scheduling in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB26-068 Modify Administration of Education Assessments aims to limit Colorado summative assessments and, if needed, to apply for a federal waiver to reduce or modify those assessment requirements. This bill passed the Senate Education Committee with a vote of 4-3.
HB26-1050 Optional Individualized Readiness Plan for School would change current education law so that local education providers are no longer required to create an individualized readiness plan for preschool or kindergarten students who score proficient on both a school readiness assessment and a kindergarten reading assessment. Instead, providing such a plan for those students becomes optional rather than mandatory. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 25th at 1:30pm.
Our Take: Colorado’s Budget Crunch: A Defining Moment for Our Priorities
This week, Colorado released its latest budget forecast, setting the stage for the final decisions lawmakers will make on the state budget. The update confirms what many anticipated: this is a tight budget year and the situation is more challenging than expected.
The forecast shows that the state’s budget shortfall has grown to nearly $1.5 billion, driven by slowing revenue growth, rising costs, and ongoing constraints from TABOR. This means lawmakers will have to make difficult decisions in the weeks ahead about what gets funded, and what doesn’t.
From this latest forecast, a few things are clear:
Revenue outlook: State revenue is coming in lower than previously projected, largely due to slower economic growth and declining collections in key areas like income and sales taxes. At the same time, TABOR limits how much of that revenue the state can retain and spend, even in years when collections are higher.
Budget gap: Colorado is now facing a shortfall of nearly $1.5 billion. This gap reflects the difference between what it will cost to maintain current services and what the state is allowed to spend under existing constraints.
Pressure on priorities: With limited resources, core priorities like education, healthcare, and public safety are all competing for funding. In years like this, even maintaining existing investments, let alone making new ones, becomes a challenge.
Colorado is required to pass a balanced budget every year, which means when revenues shift, lawmakers must quickly adjust. Moments like this reveal what our state truly prioritizes. When budgets get tight, the risk is that investments in students, especially those who have been historically underserved, become easier to pause, delay, or scale back. But we know that pulling back on education doesn’t just impact this year’s budget; it impacts long-term outcomes for students, families, and our workforce.
This is why it is critical that lawmakers protect and prioritize investments that directly support student success, including early literacy, ninth grade success, and the resources schools need to create strong learning environments.
At the same time, this forecast is a reminder of the structural challenges Colorado faces. Even in years when revenue grows, policies like TABOR limit the state’s ability to make consistent, long-term investments in public education.
As decisions are made in the coming weeks, we will be watching closely and continuing to advocate for a budget that reflects our values: one that puts students and families first and ensures every child has the opportunity to succeed, no matter the fiscal environment.
Take Action
Families and community members across Colorado are having important conversations about how phone use during the school day impacts learning, focus, and student wellbeing.
To continue this conversation, we are hosting another virtual Phone-Free Schools information session on March 25 from 12-1pm, and we invite you to join us.
During our last session, a student from Boulder Valley School District shared what it’s like to attend a bell-to-bell phone-free school and how it has affected her learning. She said: “Honestly, the impacts it made to my life is that I’m able to study better. I’m able to listen to teachers better without knowing that someone next to me is using their phone or playing video games. It’s just a lot better to be very immersed in what you’re learning, and I find that very helpful in my learning experience.“
What We’re Reading
- Colorado Sun, Colorado lawmakers reject bill that would have required police to intervene when ICE agents use excessive force
- Colorado Sun, Colorado’s state budget shortfall grows to more than $1.5 billion, forcing legislature to make much deeper cuts
- Chalkbeat Colorado, Six Colorado nonprofits that mobilize young people are launching a new statewide coalition
