Support CUT

CUT Engaged

How to Send a Message to Legislators

Use this form to contact the sponsors of this bill and share your support CUT’s position.

CUT has provided a message for you, but you also have the option to personalize it before sending.

Steps to Complete:

  1. Enter your name and email address, then click Next.
  2. Review the pre-written message or add your own comments.
  3. Optional: Add your state senator and representative to the email to make sure they hear from you as well.
  4. Click Send to submit your message directly to the bill sponsors (and your legislators, if selected).
 

Important: The reply-to address for this email will be Kim Monson, President of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT). Legislators may respond directly to Kim regarding this issue.

Your message will be sent to the legislators listed as sponsors of this bill. Your state senator and representative will also receive your message if you include them.

Make your voice heard!

Step 2: Add Your Message (Optional)

Below, you can add a custom message to personalize your email to the bill sponsors. If you prefer, you can send the pre-written message from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) as is.

Tips for Writing an Effective Message:

  • Be respectful and to the point.
  • Explain why this bill matters to you personally.
  • If possible, reference how it affects taxpayers, businesses, or your community.

Note: If you do not enter a custom message, the email will be sent with CUT’s recommended message only.

Would you like to include your state senator and representative in this message?

In addition to sending your message to the bill sponsors, you have the option to also notify your state senator and representative. This ensures that your elected officials are aware of your stance on this bill.

Select an option below:

Use the fields below to enter the email address for your state senator and representative.

You can find them by entering your address on Colorado Legislature website . (The tool will open in a new tab. After finding your legislators, return to this page to enter their email addresses.)

Mobile Tip: If you're using a phone and prefer to open the tool manually, click below to copy the link:

https://leg.colorado.gov/FindMyLegislator

CUT Opposes HB26-1138, Retail Theft Prevention Program

Creates a retail theft prevention advisory board in the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) to develop grant procedures, review/award grants, analyze data on organized felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud, and make policy recommendations. A retail theft prevention grant program in the AGO, allowing law enforcement agencies, DA offices, task forces, or tribal agencies to apply for funding to investigate/prosecute organized felony retail theft (=$2,000 value) and gift card fraud, invest in tech/analytics, provide training, and develop prevention initiatives. A majority of the CUT board is opposed to this measure. While theft is a huge problem in Colorado, it wasn’t always so. The problem came about through the legislature relaxing penalties and increasing liability on merchants, municipalities not enforcing laws, and attorneys general not prosecuting. By awarding crime, criminality increases. Our state doesn’t need another board doling out money donated by those seeking favor to those who are favored. Instead, we need elected representatives to protect the private property rights of all individuals!

  • Bill: HB26-1138
  • Bill also known as: Retail Theft Prevention Program
  • Sponsors: Cecelia Espenoza, Dan Woog

Bill HB26-1138 Summary

The bill creates the retail theft prevention advisory board in the office of the attorney general (AGO). The advisory board shall develop procedures related to applying for a grant for the retail theft prevention grant program created in the bill; review grant applications and award grants; collect and analyze data related to organized felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud trends, losses, prosecutions, and outcomes in Colorado; and develop policy recommendations in coordination with state and federal partners on how to combat felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud. The bill creates the retail theft prevention grant program in the AGO. A state or local law enforcement agency, district attorney’s office, multijurisdictional or regional task force, or tribal law enforcement agency may apply for a grant, which may be used to investigate and prosecute organized felony-level retail theft or gift card fraud; develop or invest in technology, data-sharing systems, and analytics tools to analyze felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud metrics; provide training and technical assistance to retailers or law enforcement agencies; and develop prevention and deterrence initiatives specific to felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud. Beginning January 2028, the bill requires the AGO to annually report during its SMART Act hearing certain information about the grant program and felony-level retail theft in Colorado.

Link to bill

Welcome to CUT Engaged

CUT Engaged is a new initiative by the Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) designed to empower Colorado citizens to take direct action on legislation that impacts them. Through CUT Engaged, taxpayers can easily send messages to the sponsors of selected bills, urging them to support or oppose policies based on CUT’s pro-taxpayer stance.

How CUT Engaged Works

  • Stay Informed – CUT reviews key legislation and explains each bill’s impact on taxpayers.
  • Take Action – Each CUT Engaged post features a personalized form that allows you to email the bill sponsors directly.
  • Make Your Voice Heard – You can send CUT’s recommended message or personalize your email to include your own perspective.
  • Amplify Your Impact – You can add your state senator and representative to ensure they also hear your stance.
  • Legislators Get the Message – Your email is sent directly to the lawmakers responsible for the bill, with Kim Monson, President of CUT, as the reply-to contact for any legislative responses. This ensures CUT has full visibility of the communication and minimizes potential abuse of the system by bad actors. 

Why CUT is Providing This to Colorado Taxpayers

For nearly 50 years, the Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) has been the state’s leading advocate for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and taxpayer rights. CUT Engaged is an extension of this mission, making it easier than ever for Colorado citizens to have a voice in the legislative process.

Many bills pass without real public input. Lawmakers need to hear from the people who will be affected most—you, the taxpayer. CUT Engaged removes the barriers to participation, ensuring that Colorado’s taxpaying citizens can quickly and effectively communicate with legislators before critical votes take place.

Stay informed. Take action. Protect Colorado taxpayers.

CUT Engaged Bills 2026

CUT Engaged Opposed Bills 2025

Support CUT

Join CUT and receive legislative emails

Join the Colorado Union of Taxpayers and receive our legislative emails for just $25 annually. Stay informed about tax policies and advocacy efforts while helping us fight for your right to keep more of your hard-earned money. Join CUT today and make a difference!

Join CUT

Contribute to CUT and support our work

Your additional contribution to CUT helps us to do more to protect taxpayers, property rights, school choice, and TABOR (Colorado’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights). CUT is an all volunteer group that is your voice at the Colorado Capitol and regarding issues that affect your life.

Contribute to CUT

Donate to the CUT Foundation

Support the Colorado Union of Taxpayers Foundation, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization, by making a donation today. Your contribution helps us educate Coloradans on the fiscal impact of legislation and ballot issues, ensuring transparency, and accountability in government spending.

Donate to the CUT Foundation