December 2, 2025
Welcome to another legislative update provided by AAMD and HBS. Please read the following legislative updates and use the text box at the bottom of this form to submit any questions.
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Year Round and Interim Committees:
Mon. Dec. 8: Legislative Audit Committee – 9:00A.M.
The Joint Budget Committee typically meets Monday-Friday beginning at 9:00A.M, but WILL NOT meet Monday, November 24 – Friday, November 28. Their full schedule can be found here.
Bill Drafting Deadlines:
The legislature will convene on January 14th, 2026, a later start date than in most years. Bill drafting deadlines for members’ five bills are as follows:
- First three bill titles must be submitted by December 1
- A title may be withdrawn and replaced with a new title by the Dec. 1 deadline (if a bill is withdrawn after Dec. 1, the legislator forfeits that “early bill” slot)
- A prefile bill must be designated by January 9
- Remaining two bills must be submitted by January 20
The full drafting and introduction deadline schedule can be found here.
ICYMI: Colorado House Republicans announce committee assignments
House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell and Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter released their caucus’ committee assignments, the first of the four caucuses to do so.
Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources:
- Ty Winter of Trinidad (ranking member)
- Lori Garcia Sander of Eaton
- Dusty Johnson of Fort Morgan
- Larry Don Suckla of Cortez
Appropriations:
- Rick Taggart of Grand Junction (ranking member)
- Scott Bottoms of Colorado Springs
- Jarvis Caldwell of Colorado Springs
- Matt Soper of Delta
Business Affairs and Labor:
- Chris Richardson of Elizabeth (ranking member)
- Max Brooks of Castle Rock
- Ryan Gonzalez of Fort Lupton
- Rebecca Keltie of Colorado Springs
- Larry Don Suckla of Cortez
Education:
- Lori Garcia Sander of Eaton (ranking member)
- Mary Bradfield of Colorado Springs
- Ava Flanell of Colorado Springs
- Anthony Hartsook of Parker
- Dusty Johnson of Fort Morgan
Energy & Environment:
- Dan Woog of Erie (ranking member)
- Carlos Barron of Fort Lupton
- Ken DeGraaf of Colorado Springs
- Scott Slaugh of Johnstown
Finance:
- Anthony Hartsook of Parker (ranking member)
- Max Brooks of Castle Rock
- Ken DeGraaf of Colorado Springs
- Ryan Gonzalez of Fort Lupton
- Ron Weinberg of Loveland
Health & Human Services:
- Mary Bradfield of Colorado Springs (ranking member)
- Brandi Bradley of Littleton
- Lori Garcia Sander of Eaton
- Dusty Johnson of Fort Morgan
Judiciary:
- Matt Soper of Delta (ranking member)
- Ava Flanell of Colorado Springs
- Rebecca Keltie of Colorado Springs
- Scott Slaugh of Johnstown
State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs:
- Stephanie Luck of Penrose (ranking member)
- Scott Bottoms of Colorado Springs
- Brandi Bradley of Littleton
Transportation, Housing & Local Government:
- Larry Don Suckla of Cortez (ranking member)
- Carlos Barron of Fort Lupton
- Chris Richardson of Elizabeth
- Dan Woog of Erie
Joint Budget Committee:
- Rick Taggart of Grand Junction (ranking member)
Magellan releases polling on public K-12 education in Colorado
Magellan Strategies, a longtime pollster, released polling data that asked over 1,000 Coloradans to share their opinions on the education system in the state.
The big picture:
- 57% overall think that the public education system is on the wrong track, while 29% believe it’s headed in the right direction.
- When asked more specifically if they believe their local school district is adequately educating students, 42% approve of their district, while 44% disapprove.
Yes, but:
- The survey also asked whether or not their local district has adequate financial support, and if its performance would likely improve with more funding. 53% of respondents believe their local district lacks adequate funding and 60% believe performance would improve with more funding. Conversely, 40% believe schools are adequately funded, and 36% responded that more funding would not result in better education.
The bottom line:
Pollsters asked voters to expand upon the reasons that education in Colorado is struggling, as well as where there are bright spots.
Many respondents shared that teachers and staff go above and beyond for students, and appreciate the opportunities provided from career & technical education, STEM, and trades education. Many voters disapprove of the politics and ideology that has become common in some schools and pointed out that many students across the state fail to meet academic standards.
The survey presentation can be found here.
Full survey data, topline results, and crosstabs can be found here.
What We’re Reading…
- The Colorado Municipal League is working on three pieces of legislation with the hopes of boosting revenue for affordable housing. The ideas, which came to CML from the Colorado Association of Ski Towns, include: allowing local governments to assess real-estate transfer fees; asking voters to allow local governments to approve taxes on vacant homes; and an expansion of which cities can impose short term rental taxes. (The Sum & Substance)
- Food Bank of the Rockies, a Feeding Colorado member, spoke with the Denver Post about its timely move into a larger distribution facility, as food insecurity have placed new demands on hunger relief partners. Their CEO, Erin Pulling, states, “Food insecurity is becoming more of a public health crisis than ever before”. (Denver Post)
- A 10th Circuit appeals court has green lighted implementation of a 2023 law that would opt Colorado out of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA) of 1980, and cap rates on loans offered by out-of-state lenders. (Denver Post)
- The legislative Committee on Legal Services voted to approve state-funded legal counsel to represent the 15 legislators who are accused of violating the state’s gift ban. Members of the legislative “Opportunity Caucus” are criticized for attending a caucus retreat paid for by “dark money” corporate groups; the group is being investigated by the state Independent Ethics Commission. (Colorado Sun)
From the Office of Governor Polis
Governor Polis released the following statement after the Colorado Water Conservation Board voted to advance the Shoshone water rights acquisition to secure two water rights associated with the Shoshone Power Plant, including one of the state’s most significant Colorado River water rights, for permanent instream flow protection.
“Thousands of Coloradans, our fish, and our wildlife depend on this water every day,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “This is another step toward finalizing a powerful tool for supporting competing demands—hydropower, environment, agriculture and recreation—while giving west slope water users more certainty about our future water security.”
Governor Polis, Lt. Governor Primavera, and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that Terra Ferma, which designs and manufactures new technologies for the communications industry, has selected Colorado Springs, Colorado, to start a Light Fidelity (LiFi) manufacturing facility.
The report identifies key careers to achieve net-zero emissions in Colorado by 2050 and recommends strategies to fill gaps in the state’s projected climate workforce