ColoradoColorado ballot titles must use plain language voters can understand
Colorado’s title board must use plain language in initiative ballot titles and may consider whether voters can understand the main change and how to vote.
What it does
Ballot titles must use plain language that the widest possible audience can understand. The title board may consider whether a title clearly explains the main change and how a yes or no vote would work.
Titles for tax measures must include information about estimated revenue changes and public services. For state tax cuts, the wording says the cut will likely reduce spending; the required language may appear anywhere in the title.
Argument forPlain wording and clearer explanations of the main change could help voters understand what a yes or no vote would mean.
Argument againstRequired tax details could make some ballot titles longer, and the board does not count that wording when judging whether titles are brief or accessible.
More detail
The title board must set ballot titles in plain language that the widest possible audience can understand. These requirements apply when the title board sets titles for proposed laws and constitutional amendments. The board may consider whether a title avoids specialized terms when possible, identifies the main proposed change, makes the effect of a yes or no vote clear, and presents information in a readable order. The law applies to initiative petition drafts submitted for title setting on or after its applicable effective date.
Ballot titles for tax measures must include required information about revenue and public services, and the wording may appear anywhere in the title. These provisions cover measures changing state or local district tax revenue, including property tax revenue. For a state tax reduction, the title includes an estimated revenue loss and spending information; it must name services identified in the measure, and the three largest spending areas if those services do not account for the full estimated loss. For a local property tax reduction, the title includes the estimated loss to affected districts and excludes districts whose property tax revenue would not fall. For a district tax increase, it includes wording about increasing or improving public services, whether or not the measure names services to be funded. Required tax wording is not counted when the board judges whether a title is brief or uses accessible language. Estimates do not restrict state or local budgeting. The law applies to initiative petition drafts submitted for title setting on or after its applicable effective date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 21Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 21Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 21Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 4House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 28House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
- Apr 27Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - CommitteeMinor
- Apr 21Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1320, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment C). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military AffairsMinor
- Mar 27House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Mar 25House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
- Vote recorded LIMIT. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded AMD (H.002). Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded AMD (H.001). Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 23House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1320, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans AffairsIntroduced
Civil Rights & VotingGovernment & Ethics