SB 172 Colorado Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Front Range Passenger Rail District

Summary
The act changes the boundaries of the front range passenger rail district (district) to include certain listed municipalities, any municipality whose governing body and, if necessary, electors, consent for the municipality to be included in the district, certain listed metropolitan districts, and any metropolitan district that is not within a municipality, whose governing body consents for the metropolitan district to be included in the district, and that is identified for inclusion in the district by a district board (board) resolution.     The act requires that directors of the board appointed on or after July 1, 2026, reside within the district, unless that director is already serving on the board.     The act allows the board to create subdistricts within the district. The only voting members of a subdistrict board must be directors appointed by an entity that includes territory within the subdistrict and directors who reside within the subdistrict.     The act requires that any action by a subdistrict to establish or increase a tax or create a multiple-fiscal year debt must be submitted to a vote of the registered electors of the subdistrict. Before submitting a tax question to the voters, the district or subdistrict must certify that it has made every reasonable effort to secure federal, state, or special purpose authority funding.     Lastly, the act changes the method for determining the distribution of the costs of a district or subdistrict election. Under the new method, the costs of such an election are reimbursed in the same method and manner as state primary, coordinated, general, congressional vacancy, special legislative, or recall elections conducted after July 1, 2024. The act also requires that any constitutionally required notice for a district or subdistrict election be included in the ballot information booklet.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Apr 20, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Rerevised Final Act · 3 edits · May 18, 2026
MINOR
This bill finalizes the boundaries of the Front Range Passenger Rail District by replacing a previous draft with a comprehensive list of specific municipalities and unincorporated areas. It also adds a new requirement that new board directors must live within the district and grants the district authority to create subdistricts with their own voting boards.
Scope change
The bill's scope was significantly expanded by adding numerous municipalities (such as Arvada, Centennial, and Fort Collins) and specific unincorporated areas to the district's boundaries, while removing some previously listed towns like Sheridan and Trinidad.
SCOPE

The district boundaries were updated to include a specific list of 31 municipalities and defined unincorporated areas, replacing a previous draft that included additional towns like Sheridan and Trinidad.

The district was granted new powers to divide itself into subdistricts, each with its own board of directors and specific voting rules.

REQUIREMENT

A new residency requirement was added, mandating that any board director appointed on or after July 1, 2026, must reside within the district.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 26, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
May 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker of the House
lower
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President of the Senate
upper
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
upper
May 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
lower
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
lower
May 5, 2026
Committee
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations
lower
May 1, 2026
Introduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government
lower
May 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Committee
Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
upper
4 primary · 34 co-sponsors

Sponsors