CUT Supported Bills
HB1125 – State Agency Budget Transparency
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. The bill requires state agencies to submit two budget scenarios as part of their annual budget request, and once every ten years, requires state agencies to submit a zero-based budget proposal in place of their standard incremental budget request. This bill is focused on what’s best for Coloradans: looking at budgets, fiscal accountability, and transparency to the taxpayer. [cite: 82, 83, 84, 85] The bill requires more thought from agency heads, rather than just adding X% to JBC and moving on. [cite: 84] The bill requires that expenditures be justified and examined. [cite: 85] Yes, it would cost some, but the agencies probably already do internally much of what would be required by this bill. The bill was indefinitely postponed by the House Committee on Appropriations.
Sponsors: Stephanie Luck (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
HB1146 – Juvenile Detention Bed Cap
CUT members are divided but with the majority favoring this bill. All members voiced fiscal concerns about this bill. The bill increases the detention bed cap in the Division of Youth Services and establishes a formula to determine the cap in future years. [cite: 86, 87] Law enforcement is a proper role for state government. There may be justifications for the proposed increases. [cite: 88, 89] However, the summary doesn’t include any, nor is there any substantiation for the high, proposed growth rate. [cite: 89, 90] Legislators should look for that in testimony. [cite: 90] We are concerned with the large increase in expense and headcount. [cite: 90, 91, 92, 93, 94] The Fiscal Note is not clear regarding FTEs. [cite: 91] Are the 102 FTEs in addition to existing head count? [cite: 91, 92, 93, 94] The use of the new employees is also not clear. [cite: 92] Is this paying for foster care for juveniles? [cite: 92, 93, 94] Will they get counseling, education, and training, or is this just a room and a bed? [cite: 93, 94] If the bill passes, we think there should be reporting of recidivism, so citizens have a clearer picture of results for their taxes.
Sponsors: Shannon Bird (D)*, Dan Woog (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1175 – Smart Meter Opt-In Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. The bill prohibits a utility from installing a smart meter at a customer’s residential property unless the customer opts in. [cite: 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 96] The bill requires a utility that installed a smart meter at a customer’s residential property without the customer’s permission to uninstall the smart meter and replace it with a manual meter within 90 days after receiving a customer’s request. [cite: 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 96, 97] Smart meters give the utility companies the ability to read electrical consumption and time-of-day usage, and at least the ability to disconnect and reconnect remotely. [cite: 97, 98, 99, 100, 96, 97, 98] CUT supports this bill because it reinstates property rights by giving homeowners the right to have smart meters replaced by manually read meters. [cite: 98, 99, 100] We note though that Xcel Energy already allows their customers to do this, so members expressed suspicion about the motives of the bill sponsor. [cite: 99, 100] The use of the Safety Clause is unjustified by any kind of safety issue.
Sponsors: Sheila Lieder (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1190 – Expanding Colorado Cottage Foods Act
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill encourages more consumer choice plus opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs. [cite: 103] We question the additional fraction of an FTE.
Sponsors: Ryan Gonzalez (R)*, Carlos Barron (R), Chris Richardson (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
HB1216 – State Agencies Implement Zero-Based Budgeting
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill requires that all state agencies implement zero-based budgeting for their budget requests beginning with budget requests submitted in FY 2027-28, except that the Department of Revenue, Department of Education, and Department of Transportation begin in FY 2026-27. Long overdue improvement which will bring transparency, accountability and hopefully lower cost of government. This shouldn’t cost as much as predicted if agencies are doing their budgets responsibly today.
Sponsors: Max Brooks (R)*, John Carson (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
HB1260 – Electrical Generation & Distribution Resiliency
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. Bill requires Public Utilities Commission to study and report results on the atmospheric phenomenon of ‘coronal mass ejection’, or geomagnetic storms on the sun. [cite: 134] Such events have potential for great public harm and knocking out entire electrical grids. [cite: 134] Bill seeks answers to frequency of said events over 50 and 100 years. [cite: 134] Bill seeks possible mitigating defenses to include physical and electronic quarantines, and frequent updates from NOAA
Sponsors: Ken Degraaf (R) , Rod Pelton (R) , Chris Richardson (R), Larry Suckla (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
SB131 – Reducing the Cost of Housing
Our CUT Board was closely divided on this bill, but majority supported an “Aye” vote. [cite: 151] We see reasonable requirements on landlords to remediate any conditions which render a property ‘uninhabitable’, and places upon landlord time requirements for responding to tenants complaints. [cite: 151] Bill also loosens construction defects laws, thereby decreasing the dis-incentive from building. [cite: 151] We see this as a positive step in increasing inventory, and thereby putting downward pressure on housing prices.
Sponsors: Paul Lundeen (R), Mark Baisley (R), Scott Bright (R), John Carson (R), Marc Catlin (R), Lisa Frizell (R)*, Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), Larry Liston (R) , Byron Pelton (R), Rod Pelton (R), Janice Rich (R)*, Cleave Simpson (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
SB138 – Permanent Reductions to State Income Tax
This bill did not make it out of committee, however income taxes penalize and therefore discourage income generation. [cite: 152, 153, 154] Simply legalizing income tax places a permanent lien on people’s incomes. [cite: 153, 154] Cut and eventually eliminate this tax.
Sponsors: John Carson (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
SB139 – Grocery & Utility Bill Reduction Measures
This bill is GREAT for the citizens. [cite: 156] It gets rid of nuisance fees such as the bag fee, delivery fee, and the cage free egg mandate all in which the voters did not have a vote. [cite: 156] This bill also adds nuclear energy to the list of clean renewable energy.
Sponsors: Mark Baisley (R) , Scott Bright (R), John Carson (R) , Marc Catlin (R)*, Lisa Frizell (R) , Barbara Kirkmeyer (R)*, Larry Liston (R) , Paul Lundeen (R), Byron Pelton (R), Rod Pelton (R), Janice Rich (R), Cleave Simpson (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
SB156 – Reducing Costs of State Regulation
Unanimous support from CUT board. [cite: 156] This bill removes burdensome wasteful regulations and increases economic opportunity. [cite: 156] It’s a Taxpayer Savings Legislation Operation. [cite: 156] Let’s call it Colorado DOGE!
Sponsors: Janice Rich (R), Rebecca Keltie (R), Mark Baisley (R)*, Scott Bright (R), John Carson (R), Marc Catlin (R), Lisa Frizell (R), Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), Larry Liston (R), Paul Lundeen (R)*, Byron Pelton (R) , Rod Pelton (R), Cleave Simpson (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
CUT Opposed Bills
HB1191 – Elections to Fill County Commissioner Vacancies
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The bill requires that a county commissioner vacancy be filled by voters in an election rather than by a vacancy committee. [cite: 103] We think it’s a nice idea, but if sitting commissioners are deadlocked on an issue while awaiting results of a special election, should a county’s business decisions grind to a halt? [cite: 103] Since such special elections are limited to the incumbent’s party, it doesn’t address using the vacancy scheme to game the system.
Sponsors: Chris Richardson (R)
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1193 – Vote Transparency Protocol Act
CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill creates a new process for voter registration and voter verification, requires the use of distributed ledger voting for all statewide elections. [cite: 103] Too complicated and too expensive: 50 FTEs in the first year and almost $28 million. [cite: 103] Instead, to economically improve the system, have in-person voting, voter identification, use paper ballots, and count by hand. [cite: 103] That would eliminate fictitious voters, provide complete chain-of-custody control of ballots, and address doubts about programmed tally machines connected to the internet.
Sponsors: Larry Suckla (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
HB1199 – Property Tax Payment Schedule
CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. [cite: 105, 106, 107, 108, 109] The bill creates a 4-installment-payment option for taxpayers. [cite: 106, 107, 108, 109] We like the spirit of this bill which could help a property owner who is on a fixed income and not able to pay the tax bill in full by the current deadline. [cite: 106, 107, 108, 109] But this thing is way too complicated. [cite: 107, 108, 109] Why not change it to so that every “allowed taxpayer” may pay in four equal installments or one lump sum? [cite: 107, 108, 109] Those who pay by early, single payment should receive a discount incentive. [cite: 108, 109] Why no fiscal note; what would this cost?
Sponsors: Cecelia Espenoza (D)
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1234 – Utility Consumer Protection
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill prohibits utilities from selling or disclosing customer data without permission and limits when they can disconnect services. [cite: 111] This bill interferes with private businesses and may appear to give permission for non-payment of bills which will then increase costs to other ratepayers. [cite: 111] There are already programs to assist in payment of utility bills. [cite: 111] The Safety Clause is inappropriate.
Sponsors: Junie Joseph (D)*, Naquetta Ricks (D)*, Faith Winter (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1236 – Residential Tenant Screening
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill modifies requirements for tenant screening reports used in the rental application process, including the prohibition of including credit histories for reports concerning tenants seeking to rent with the assistance of housing subsidies. [cite: 113, 114, 115, 116, 117] CUT believes that this is a property rights issue and that the State should not interfere in private contracts. [cite: 115, 116, 117] Property owners need to be able to protect their interests. [cite: 116, 117] This bill could lead to increased housing costs and decreased housing availability.
Sponsors: Mandy Lindsay (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1241 – Public Accessibility of Emissions Records
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill requires a person that owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises (owner or operator) a building, structure, facility, or installation that emits or may emit an air pollutant (stationary source) to maintain records that will help the public determine whether the owner is in compliance with air quality regulations. This could be expensive and onerous for building owners, which could include residential owners. [cite: 119, 120, 121] Small businesses have enough work trying to make ends meet and homeowners would have no idea how to do these measurements. [cite: 120, 121] This is harassment by the “green” lobby.
Sponsors: Lorena Garcia (D)*, Bob Marshall (D), Lisa Cutter (D)*, Cathy Kipp (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1245 – Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Improvement Projects in Schools
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill requires that public schools and districts satisfy certain requirements concerning installation, inspection, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems when using federal and state funding. The individual school districts have the responsibility for HVAC in their buildings. This does not require State involvement.
Sponsors: Eliza Hamrick (D)*, Sheila Lieder (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1246 – Limit Peace Officer Partisan Political Activities
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill limits the political activities of certain county peace officers. [cite: 43, 44, 45] This is an unneeded bill meant to suppress political opinions. [cite: 44, 45] It is interesting that the Unions can have opinions, but not individuals!
Sponsors: Javier Mabrey (D)*, Bob Marshall (D)*
Bill Status: Dead
HB1247 – County Lodging Tax Expansion
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill increases the allowed county lodging tax rate and expands the purposes for which county lodging tax revenue may be used. [cite: 46, 47, 48, 49] The last thing we need is higher taxes (in this case, a possible tripling of tax rates). [cite: 47, 48, 49] This will increase the costs of lodging (which Coloradans use too) and may eventually suppress tourism. [cite: 48, 49] It’s time to say NO to any new taxes.
Sponsors: Karen McCormick (D), Katie Stewart (D), Dylan Roberts (D), Cleave Simpson (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1250 – Gun Violence Prevention & Parents of Students
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill requires each local education provider to provide gun violence protection materials provided by the State in a written or electronic format to students’ parents, guardians, and legal custodians at the beginning of each school year, and to post the materials on the local education provider’s website. This looks like a back door way of going against the 2nd amendment-why not talk about “gun safety” instead of “gun violence”. [cite: 50, 51, 52] Also, this is the job of the local school boards – not the State Legislature.
Sponsors: Eliza Hamrick (D) , Lisa Cutter (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1263 – Graduate Medical Education Grant Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. Bill purports to increase number of physicians practicing in Colorado by bringing new residency programs for physicians in training. Bill offers grants to hospitals not currently operating a residency program. But increasing the number of available residency slots offers no assurance that those residency graduates will remain in Colorado after their residency ends. A better solution would require reducing the regulatory burden and litigation on practicing physicians
Sponsors: Lisa Feret (D)*, Tony Hartsook (R)*, Matt Ball (D)*, Kyle Mullica (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1267 – Support for Statewide Energy Strategies
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. Bill seeks to add regulation to the EV Charging Station industry. Sponsors wish for the state to establish and regulate pricing, and technical requirements for such charging stations. Our General Assembly seems to have an insatiable desire for control. But controlling free markets and private enterprise is not in their job description. Consumers are the rightful arbiters of such matters.
Sponsors: Karen McCormick (D), Amy Paschal (D), Judith Amabile (D), Faith Winter (D)
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1269 – Building Decarbonization Measures
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. Bill begins with the dubious premise that climate crisis is ‘settled science’, and from there seeks to mandate onerous reductions in energy use by 10s of thousands of building owners. [cite: 57, 58, 59, 60] Fines for violators up to $47,000 per day for failure to achieve bill’s prescribed thresholds. [cite: 58, 59, 60] This bill is a jobs killer, and an end run around TABOR. [cite: 59, 60] Mandating some ideological outcome does not make it possible. [cite: 60] Very curious use of the Safety Clause.
Sponsors: Alex Valdez (D) , Jenny Willford (D), Matt Ball (D) , Cathy Kipp (D)
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1274 – Healthy School Meals for All Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. Bill puts before voters in November, 2 separate ballot issues to pay for free breakfast and lunch for EVERY student. [cite: 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66] No Fiscal Note to tell us the projected cost is provided. [cite: 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66] Bill would quarantine new revenue from a 2022 bill which capped tax deductions for taxpayers making more than $300,000 per year, and make that money exempt from TABOR. [cite: 62, 63, 64, 65, 66] Second ballot measure would raise taxes by $95 million by again ratcheting down again on the same $300k earners. [cite: 63, 64, 65, 66] So what if we chase all the affluent out of the state? [cite: 64, 65, 66] And there is zero justification for inclusion of the Safety Clause.
Sponsors: Lorena García (D) , Dafna Mchaelson Jenet (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1277 – Increasing Transparency Impact of Fuel Products
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. Bill mandates labeling on all petroleum products indicating to user that combustion causes greenhouse gases and implying that greenhouse gases are bad. [cite: 66, 67, 68, 69] CO2 is labeled as a greenhouse gas, however most eighth graders have learned that CO2 is plant food. [cite: 67, 68, 69] CO2 helps plants thrive and prosper. The bill is micro-management on steroids, going so far as to mandate color and font size of the required labeling.
Sponsors: Jennifer Bacon (D)*, Junie Joseph (D)*, Lisa Cutter (D)
Bill Status: In Committee
HB1280 – Advanced Leak Detection Technology Rules
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. [cite: 70, 71] Bill sponsors have hit upon a concern to the public. [cite: 71] But the problem was already addressed in SB21-108, and this bill adds no extra security. [cite: 71] What it does do is add more expense to building owners and pipeline operators. [cite: 71] We cannot understand why sponsors would add costs (to others of course) with no real benefit.
Sponsors: Lesley Smith (D) Tammy Story (D)
Bill Status: In Committee
SB161 – Transit Reform
This bill would put RTD, CDOT, and DRCOG in cahoots to herd us all to public transportation. Given RTD’s record, as taxpayers throw more money at this, taxpayers might see delayed projects or inefficiencies-particularly if RTD struggles to meet deadlines (April 10, 2026)-increasing costs, or stalling transit expansion. This bill has a safety clause so if problems occur the citizens have no way to stop this train wreck. Very questionable that there is also no Fiscal Note.
Sponsors: Iman Jodeh (D), Faith Winter (D), Meg Froelich (D), William Lindstedt (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
SB169 – Restaurant Meals Program
This bill has no Fiscal Note. Taxpayers could bear the costs for audits, enforcement, or lost funds, potentially $50,000 to $100,000 annually based on fraud rates in other states. This would divert money from core SNAP benefits.
Sponsors: Iman Jodeh (D), Rod Pelton (R) , Yara Zokaie (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
SB173 – Revenue Classification Taxpayers Bill of Rights
This bill is designed to exclude more revenue from TABOR, thereby increasing the amount of money the General Assembly is allowed to spend. This of course reduces TABOR REFUNDS. Despicable use of the Safety Clause. No public safety is at issue here. Just used to keep voters from weighing in. This bill has no Fiscal Note.
Sponsors: Michael Weissman (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
SB183 – Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services
This bill mandates that insurance carriers cover the cost of termination of pregnancies ie: abortions. Requiring all health plans to cover abortion care without copays or deductibles would raise premiums for all policy holders. Not to mention that over half of the voters in Colorado are concerned for a moral reason. There is no reason for this to have a Safety Clause other than to keep it out of the hands of the voters.
Sponsors: Lindsey Daugherty (D) , Robert Rodriguez (D), Lorena Garcia (D), Julie McCluskie (D), Judith Amabile (D), Matt Ball (D), Jeff Bridges (D), Lisa Cutter (*D), Jessie Danielson (*D) Julie Gonzales (D) Nick Hinrichsen (D), Cathy Kipp (D)*, Chris Kolker (D)*, Dafna Michaelson Jenet (*D) Michael Weissman (Faith Winter (*D). Jennifer Bacon (D), Andrew Boesenecker (*D) Kyle Brown (*D), Sean Camacho (*D), Mchael Carter (*D), Chad Clifford (D, Monica Duran (D), Regina English (D), Cecelia Espenoza (D), Lisa Feret (D), Meg Froelich (D) , Lindsay Gilchrist (*D) Eliza Hamrick (*D), Jamie Jackson (D), Junie Joseph (D), Sheila Lieder (D), Mandy Lindsay (D), William Lindstedt (D), Meghan Lukens (*D), Javier Mabrey (D), Matt Martinez (D), Tisha Mauro (D), Karen McCormick (D), Amy Paschal (D), Jacqueline Phillips (D), Manny Rutinel (*D), Gretchen Rydin (*D) Lesley Smith (D), Rebekah Stewart (D), Katie Stewart (D), Tammy Story (D), Brianna Titone (D)*, Alex Valdez (D), Elizabeth Velasco (D)*, Jenny Willford (D), Steven Woodrow (D), Yara Zokaie (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
