Colorado Union of Taxpayers rates four bills on utility regulators, school finance, single-use food rules, and a TABOR affirmation resolution

The Colorado Union of Taxpayers, where Kim Monson serves as president, rated four new measures this week through its CUT Engaged citizen action tool. CUT opposes three bills and supports one resolution. The measures cover an 11-year extension and expansion of the Public Utilities Commission, the FY 2026-27 School Finance Act, new state restrictions on single-use food serviceware, and a House resolution reaffirming the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

Bills CUT opposes

Utility commission extended 11 years with expanded authority

HB26-1326 continues the Public Utilities Commission through September 1, 2037, and implements the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ 2025 sunset review recommendations. The bill permits commission members to engage in nonpublic communications on adjudicatory matters after the close of the evidentiary record if prior notice is given and final reasoning is later made at a public hearing, authorizes the commission to conduct business by email, and directs the commission to study income-based energy assistance programs and to identify all privately owned water utilities in the state and assess their financial conditions. Separate sections of the bill address ride share driver impersonation, facial recognition checks by transportation network companies, bus and limousine inspection schedules, penal communications service rates, and pipeline safety penalties. CUT calls HB26-1326 a 44-page bill that “empowers bureaucratic mission creep” and argues that a commission originally formed to protect consumers from monopoly utilities has become “a favorite hammer for those Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Interested Parties (PBIs) under the Gold Dome who seek to control every aspect of hard-working Coloradan’s lives.” CUT recommends replacing the governor-appointed PUC board with a board elected by the people.

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran (D), Jenny Willford (D), Lori Goldstein (D), Junie Joseph (D), Amy Paschal (D), Lesley Smith (D), and Elizabeth Velasco (D) and Senators Robert Rodriguez (D) and Lisa Cutter (D).

Tell the sponsors what you think about HB26-1326 on CUT Engaged.

School Finance Act lifts per-pupil base to $8,909

SB26-023 sets K-12 school finance funding for fiscal year 2026-27. The bill raises the statewide base per-pupil funding by $217.30 to a new base of $8,909.10 and sets total statewide program funding at $10,209,589,888. CUT unanimously opposes the bill. The board points out that student performance scores continue to decline, enrollment continues to shrink, administrations continue to grow, and the state is already running a deficit. CUT concludes that the bill “requires no accountability and gives no rationale” for a large spending increase, and that “legislators need to do their homework” before asking taxpayers to fund it.

The bill is sponsored by Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) and Chris Kolker (D) and Representative Eliza Hamrick (D).

Tell the sponsors what you think about SB26-023 on CUT Engaged.

Single-use food serviceware rules add county penalties up to $1,000

SB26-146 expands the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act by prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2027, a retail food establishment or third-party food delivery service from providing single-use food serviceware such as utensils, napkins, and condiment packets to a customer unless the customer requests it or confirms a request when offered. Counties gain authority to levy civil penalties up to $500 for a second violation and up to $1,000 for a third. The Department of Public Health and Environment is required to establish a public web page describing the new requirements and the Act’s existing enforcement mechanism by January 1, 2027. CUT calls the bill “government interference with private business and a real waste of the Legislature’s time,” warning that it looks like “a ‘gotcha’ opportunity for local government to charge $500 fines for a business giving a spoon with a bowl of ice cream if the provider can’t prove the server specifically asked the customer if they wanted a spoon.”

The bill is sponsored by Senator Lisa Cutter (D) and Representative Meg Froelich (D).

Tell the sponsors what you think about SB26-146 on CUT Engaged.

Resolution CUT supports

TABOR affirmation resolution killed in committee 8-3

HR26-1008 is a House resolution affirming Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, reinforcing taxpayer consent and ballot transparency, and condemning practices that circumvent voter approval of tax and fiscal decisions. The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee voted 8-3 to postpone the resolution indefinitely on April 20, 2026, one week after its introduction. CUT notes that protecting TABOR is the reason the organization exists, and the board finds it ironic that a resolution is even needed given that Colorado voters amended the state constitution in support of TABOR decades ago. CUT suggests that a petition and public vote in affirmation of this resolution may be the wake-up call the legislature needs to do the will of the people and declare the “work-arounds” of TABOR unacceptable.

The resolution was sponsored by Representatives Carlos Barron (R) and Ryan Gonzalez (R).

Tell your representatives what you think about the 8-3 vote against HR26-1008 on CUT Engaged.

Make your voice heard

All four measures are available on CUT Engaged, the Colorado Union of Taxpayers’ citizen action tool that lets you contact your legislators directly about the bills that affect your wallet and your freedom.