Education

passed · Colorado · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 183: State Funding for Colorado School of Mines Capital Construction Costs

The bill requires the state treasurer, on behalf of the state, to execute, no later than December 31, 2026, financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements (financing agreements) to finance a portion of the capital costs related to the capital renewal of a facility at the Colorado school of mines. The financing agreements are to be issued in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $13 million plus reasonable and necessary administrative, monitoring, and closing costs and interest, including capitalized interest. The anticipated annual state-funded payments for the principal and interest components due under the financing agreements must not exceed the difference between $17.5 million and the amount of the annual state-funded payments for the agreements entered into pursuant to House Bill 24-1231, with principal amortization not occurring before July 1, 2027. The proceeds from the financing agreements will be used for the renewal of critical building systems of Guggenheim hall at the Colorado school of mines.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funding for capital construction and facility renewal at Colorado School of Mines, a public higher education institution, directly supporting educational infrastructure.95% confidence

Track

signed · Colorado · House May 27, 2026

HB 1404: Transfer Tobacco Education Fund to Preschool Program Fund

The act transfers $10 million from the tobacco education programs fund to the preschool programs cash fund on June 30, 2027.     For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the act reduces the general fund appropriation to the department of early childhood (department) for the universal preschool program by $10 million and makes a corresponding $10 million appropriation to the department from the preschool programs cash fund for the universal preschool program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill transfers $10M from tobacco education funding to reduce general fund appropriations for early childhood, effectively cutting public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill transfers $10 million to the preschool program fund, increasing state funding for early childhood education and strengthening educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Early Childhood

signed · Colorado · House May 27, 2026

HB 1351: Healthy School Meals for All State Education Fund

During the 2023-24 and 2024-25 state fiscal years, the general assembly appropriated money from the state education fund for expenditures related to the healthy school meals for all program. The act directs the state treasurer to transfer $31,066,831 from the healthy school meals for all program cash fund (program fund) to the state education fund on July 1, 2026.     Under current law, beginning on July 1, 2026, and on each July 1 thereafter, the state treasurer is required to transfer money from the state education fund to the program fund and to the healthy school meals for all program fund account (account) within the program fund. The act delays that requirement so that the treasurer is required to transfer money from the state education fund to the program fund and to the account beginning on July 1, 2028. In addition, the act repeals reporting requirements related to money in the program fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for school meals and mandates fund transfers, directly addressing state budget and fiscal management policies.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates state funds specifically for the healthy school meals program within the education fund, enhancing student welfare and school programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding Student Health

signed · Colorado · Senate Jun 4, 2026

SB 170: Task Force to Expand Effective Public Schools

The act creates the access to opportunity task force (task force) to study and report on how to expand access to effective public schools to address opportunity gaps.     The act requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, the governor, the state board of education, the commissioner of education, and the department of education on or before January 1, 2027. If the first meeting of the task force is not until after July 31, 2026, then the report deadline is 5 months after the task force's first meeting.     The act specifies that the task force will only conduct a study and prepare a report if the department of education receives sufficient gifts, grants, and donations.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates task force to expand access to effective public schools and address opportunity gaps. Intent aligns with support indicators for educational access and improvement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice School Funding

passed · Colorado · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 166: School Board Member Disqualifying Convictions

Current law disqualifies a person convicted of committing a sexual offense against a child from being a school director of a school district, commonly known as a school board member. The bill adds convictions for crimes of violence and for felony drug offenses involving distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale of a controlled substance to the list of offenses that disqualify a person from being a school board member. The bill specifies that a person is disqualified only for crimes of violence offenses and felony drug offenses committed when the person was an adult and when fewer than 10 years have passed since the person satisfied every aspect of the sentenced imposed for the conviction, including incarceration, financial penalties, and parole .(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands disqualifying convictions to include violent crimes and drug offenses, strengthening public safety and protecting communities from potential harm by school board members.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens school governance by expanding disqualifying criteria for board members, aiming to protect the educational environment and student safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole

Track

signed · Colorado · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 1359: Credit State Public School Fund from Natural Resources

Under current law, with certain exceptions, royalties and other payments for the depletion or extraction of a natural resource on public school lands is credited to the state public school fund, which is also known as the permanent fund.     The act requires that:For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $25 million of this money be credited to the state public school fund; andFor the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $45 million of this money be credited to the state public school fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates specific funding allocations from natural resource royalties to the state public school fund, directly strengthening budgetary support for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $25M and $45M from natural resource royalties into the state public school fund, directly increasing financial resources for K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

signed · Colorado · House May 29, 2026

HB 1384: Direct Transfers for Colorado Department of Labor & Employment School-to-Work Programs

Pursuant to existing law, a school district (district) may direct, by written instruction to the state board of education (board), that a specified portion of its monthly payment of the state's share of the district's total program for the budget year be paid to the department of labor and employment to cover the district's costs for participation in school-to-work alliance programs. The board is required to certify to the state treasurer on a monthly basis the amount, if any, to be transferred directly to the department of labor and employment instead of paid to the district.     The act clarifies that the amount of money transferred from the state public school fund directly to the department of labor and employment for school-to-work alliance program costs instead of paid to a district is not state fiscal year spending for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill facilitates funding transfers to support school-to-work programs, strengthening fiscal management for essential education initiatives.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables direct funding transfers to cover costs for school-to-work programs, facilitating financial support for specific educational initiatives and student programs.75% confidence

signed · Colorado · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 1345: Higher Education Funding Allocation Model Changes

This bill updates how Colorado state colleges and universities receive performance-based funding starting in the 2027-28 fiscal year. It renames "performance funding" to "results-informed funding" and modifies the metrics used to calculate these funds, including graduation rates, student retention, and Pell-eligible student enrollment. The legislation also introduces a new definition for "co-located degree partnerships" and excludes students in these programs from certain graduation rate calculations. Additionally, the bill changes how funding components are ordered and removes requirements for sequential calculation of funding amounts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill introduces results-informed funding with metrics like graduation rates and Pell-eligible enrollment, aiming to improve higher education outcomes and access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

signed · Colorado · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 151: Modify Public Employees Retirement Association Allowed Affiliation and Board of Trustees

This bill brings Denver School of Science and Technology charter schools into the Denver Public Schools division of the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA), allowing their employees to participate in the same retirement benefits as other Denver public school workers. The legislation also changes the PERA Board of Trustees by adding one voting member elected by Denver Public Schools employees and removing a non-voting ex officio member from that division. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for charter school employees to purchase additional retirement service credit for years worked before affiliation, moving the cutoff date from November 1, 2006, to July 1, 2026. These changes affect Denver public school employees, retirees, and the governance structure of the state's public employee retirement system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill extends retirement benefits to charter school employees, strengthening teacher compensation and supporting educators in the education sector.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands retirement benefits for public school employees and adds employee representation to the PERA Board, strengthening worker benefits and collective representation.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Public Employees

signed · Colorado · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 153: Licensed School Counselor Credit Hour Requirements

This bill establishes new educational requirements for individuals seeking to become licensed school counselors in Colorado. To qualify for an initial school counselor license, applicants must now hold a master's degree or higher specifically in school counseling from an accredited institution, with the program requiring at least 48 graduate semester credit hours. The legislation aims to ensure that school counselors entering the profession have comprehensive graduate-level preparation in counseling practices, student development, and strategies to support students facing behavioral and academic challenges. This change directly affects current and future school counselor candidates in Colorado who must meet these updated academic standards to obtain their professional license.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill raises educational standards for school counselors by requiring master's degree and 48 credit hours, enhancing professional preparation and student support services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health