THE MOTHER LODE
A short, sweet, and rich summary of what’s happened at the Capitol
The countdown is on under the Gold Dome. With the Colorado General Assembly set to adjourn its 2026 regular session on May 13, lawmakers are entering the final stretch with a crowded calendar and little room for delay. Many bills still await debate and final votes, setting up for long days and nights for the close to this session.
On the gaming front, SB26-131 (Sports Betting Protections) was introduced in the Senate a few weeks ago, spurring extensive backroom negotiations. The bill originally proposed sweeping restrictions, including a ban on prop bets, strict deposit limits, and tighter advertising rules. These areas were exhaustively debated in the Senate Finance Committee, and a couple of weeks later, the Senate Appropriations Committee stripped the prop bet ban in committee. More amendments were added on during the Senate floor debate, which softened other provisions, including raising the deposit cap and revising advertising limits. The measure now heads to the House in a significantly scaled-back form.
Rideshare debates and regulations are also being debated again. A newly introduced rideshare regulation bill revives a policy fight that ended in a veto from Gov. Polis last year. The proposal would require semiannual criminal background checks, impose a 72-hour deadline for compliance with subpoenas, and mandate safeguards against impersonation and account sharing, an issue where vetted drivers allow
unapproved individuals to operate under their accounts. Additional provisions would restrict drivers to distributing only factory-sealed food and beverages and require annual reporting metrics. Whether this version can clear both chambers and avoid another veto remains a question.
In education and TABOR news, the Senate advanced SB26-135, a funding proposal aimed at boosting K-12 investment and funding other areas of shortfalls in the state budget. Backed by Sen. Jeff Bridges, D- Greenwood Village, and Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, the measure would direct excess TABOR funds toward priorities like teacher pay while allowing the state to retain remaining surplus revenue to use on other budget priorities that may not be education related. Voters would ultimately decide the issue via a ballot measure, with the policy set to run for ten years if approved.
Looking ahead to November, voters may also weigh in on the future of passenger rail along the Front Range. SB26-172 proposes restructuring the rail district and asking residents in 30 municipalities to approve a sales tax increase to fund the project. The plan gained momentum this week as regional transit leaders backed an initial $332 million agreement with BNSF Railway to utilize existing freight tracks for passenger service connecting Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins.
Meanwhile, a legal challenge is reshaping the conversation around Colorado’s 2024 artificial intelligence law. Last Friday, the Justice Department joined an xAI lawsuit targeting Colorado’s 2024 AI regulations, rules that were central to last year’s special session debate . In response, the state agreed to delay enforcement until later this year so that the law may be repealed by the legislature. The pause adds urgency to legislative negotiations and leaves open the possibility that Gov. Polis could call another special session if the bill is not repealed.
With major fiscal decisions, regulatory resets, and ballot-bound questions all in play, the final days of the session are shaping up to be as consequential as they are compressed.
Notable House Bills Introduced:
HB26-1424 – Transportation Network Company Consumer Protections HB26-1419 – Over-Refund of Excess State Revenues
Notable Senate Bills Introduced:
SB26-182 – Updated Energy Plan Municipally Owned Utility SB26-178 – Health Insurance Affordability Measures SB26-177 – Access Adjoining Property to Repair or Maintain SB26-176 – State Remedies for Constitutional Rights Violation SB26-172 – Front Range Passenger Rail District SB26-167 – Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Expense Credit SB26-165 – Species Conservation Measures SB26-164 – Regulation of Lawful Tetrahydrocannabinol Beverages SB26-161 – Modernize Regulation of Cannabis-Related Products
CAPITOL CHATTER
Press releases, news articles, and more
April 29 – Colorado lawmakers abandon effort to limit police use of Flock cameras, surveillance date April 29 – Colorado passenger train project wins pivotal state board, RTD Votes April 29 – State budget heads to Gov. Jared Polis after lawmakers wrestle with cuts to disability services
April 28 – Federal judge rejects Colorado GOP’s effort to block una#liated voters from participating in party’s 2026 primaries April 28 – Colorado lawmakers limit health care enrollment for immigrant children, but raise cap on dental benefits as budget talks conclude April 28 – Colorado legislature sends $48.6B state budget to governor’s desk after final round of tweaks April 28 – Colorado lawmaker pushes revised rideshare safety bill after Polis veto April 27 – Colorado Landfill emission rules could force mountain counties to hike trash fees. Lawmakers are seeking solution. April 27 – Democrats’ dueling data center bills have stalled as opposition to industry mounts April 26 – Across Colorado, people fighting for the right to repair their stu". Where can they go to learn how to do it? April 26 – Colorado lawmakers grapple with limits on kids’ AI chatbot interactions – and access to adult content April 24 – Colorado lawmakers floated 3 ways to curb or half taxpayer spending on wolves. Here’s the one advancing April 24 – 2 Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioners resign, 1 confirmed amid debate over future of wildlife management April 24 – Amid budget cuts, Colorado lawmakers and state wide elected o#cials are set to get a pay hike next year April 24 – Justice Department joins Elon Musk company’s lawsuit against Colorado AI regulations April 24 – Prohibition on prop bets stripped from Colorado problem gambling bill April 22 – Front Range passenger rail district will likely be scaled back to major cities ahead of 2026 sales tax vote April 22 – Colorado transportation o#cials plan to use express lane tolls to fund Bustang’s $25 million shortfall – but on I-70 that money won’t be enough April 20 – Lawmakers prep for final dash on housing, data centers, gambling in the Colorado legislature this week April 16 – After parade of Medicaid errors and cuts, Colorado lawmakers plan a deep review of health care program
April 15 – Barbara Kirkmeyer qualifies for GOP primary for Colorado governor as state contests take shape
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