Colorado Union of Taxpayers rates five bills on energy, tax credits, property rights, water, and regulatory reform

The Colorado Union of Taxpayers, where Kim Monson serves as president, rated five new bills this week, opposing two and supporting three. Each bill is now live on CUT Engaged, where Colorado taxpayers can read CUT’s full analysis and contact bill sponsors directly.

Bills CUT opposes

Utility customers would subsidize solar garden interconnection costs

HB26-1225 adjusts how bill credits are applied for community solar garden subscribers and creates new requirements for public utilities. While CUT acknowledges appealing aspects of the bill, including streamlined processes for bringing community-owned facilities online, the organization opposes it because interconnection costs would be paid by all utility customers, not just those who benefit. CUT views this as government giving favorable treatment to special interest groups. The bill applies only to utilities with 500,000 or more customers.

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Lesley Smith (D) and Jenny Willford (D) and Senator Matt Ball (D).

Tell the sponsors what you think about HB26-1225 on CUT Engaged.

Conservation easement tax credit extension would cost $24 to $40 million per year

HB26-1230 would extend the conservation easement tax credit for five additional years, from 2031 to 2036. CUT overwhelmingly voted no. The credit would require more than six full-time state employees to administer and cost $24 to $40 million in lost tax revenue per year, a significant hit during Colorado’s current budget challenges. Colorado already has four million acres under conservation easements, which CUT views as extensive government limitation on the use of private property.

The prime sponsors are Representatives Matt Martinez (D) and Elizabeth Velasco (D) and Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) and Dylan Roberts (D), with 38 additional co-sponsors from both chambers.

Tell the sponsors what you think about HB26-1230 on CUT Engaged.

Bills CUT supports

Civil asset forfeiture reform restores property rights and due process

HB26-1250 is a bipartisan reform of Colorado’s civil asset forfeiture procedures. The bill requires criminal charges before the government can seize private property, correcting what CUT calls a long-abused violation of Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights. Under previous law, the government could seize cash, vehicles, and real estate connected to alleged criminal activity, even without a conviction. The bill also establishes a right to appointed forfeiture defense counsel and creates a $1.1 million defense fund. CUT believes this legislation restores property rights and due process rights in Colorado.

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon (D) and Ken DeGraaf (R).

Tell the sponsors what you think about HB26-1250 on CUT Engaged.

Water projects bill funds critical infrastructure with bipartisan support

HB26-1338 appropriates funds from the Colorado Water Conservation Board for water management projects including satellite monitoring, floodplain mapping, and watershed restoration. The bill funds loans for the Halligan Water Supply Project for municipal storage and Jurgen Reservoir for agricultural storage. CUT notes concern that the bill increases the Department of Natural Resources’ spending authorization from $10 million to $30 million without additional legislative oversight, but consensus held that water projects are critical and need prudent due diligence.

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Karen McCormick (D) and Ty Winter (R) and Senators Dylan Roberts (D) and Cleave Simpson (R).

Tell the sponsors what you think about HB26-1338 on CUT Engaged.

Administrative rule review could reduce Colorado’s 6th-worst regulatory burden

SB26-137 requires state government departments to review all administrative rules every five years, evaluating whether each rule is outdated, redundant, or creates excessive burden without public benefit. CUT calls the bill necessary, long overdue, and well worth the cost. The result could be businesses spending less time and money on compliance with outdated rules, and perhaps an improvement on Colorado’s reputation as the 6th most regulated state.

The bill is sponsored by Senators James Coleman (D) and Cleave Simpson (R) and Representatives Julie McCluskie (D) and Jarvis Caldwell (R).

Tell the sponsors what you think about SB26-137 on CUT Engaged.

Make your voice heard

All five bills are now live on CUT Engaged, where Colorado taxpayers can read CUT’s analysis and contact their legislators directly. Three of this week’s five bills have bipartisan sponsorship, a notable trend in this session’s ratings.

Disclosure: Kim Monson is president of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers.