Colorado Ends 120-Day Session With 101 Key Bills Passed or Defeated
Updated
Updated · The Colorado Sun · May 14
Colorado Ends 120-Day Session With 101 Key Bills Passed or Defeated
6 articles · Updated · The Colorado Sun · May 14
Colorado lawmakers wrapped up the 2026 session Wednesday after 120 days, with about 650 measures considered and 101 standout bills identified as the most consequential for residents.
Housing, public safety and budget policy dominated the session: lawmakers advanced zoning changes to ease housing construction, prison and domestic-violence measures, and a $46.8 billion budget aimed at closing a roughly $1.5 billion shortfall.
Several high-impact bills still await Gov. Jared Polis’ action, including measures on homelessness coordination, AI rules in healthcare, election changes, rideshare safety and taxpayer refunds; he has about a month to sign, veto or allow them to become law.
The session also produced notable failures, including proposals on vacancy taxes, lot-splitting for denser housing, alcohol-fee funding for addiction services, prostitution decriminalization and tighter regulation of gun barrel sales.
The final ledger underscores a session shaped by affordability, public safety, technology oversight and fiscal strain, with November ballot fights over transportation and TABOR refunds likely to extend the policy battles.
Amid a massive budget shortfall, how will Colorado's gas tax cut impact funding for schools and healthcare?
As Colorado's Medicaid program faces deep cuts, what happens to healthcare access for its most vulnerable residents?
How will Colorado's new AI law affect businesses using automated technology for hiring or setting prices?