Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires the secretary of state to issue a ballot initiative to approve a funding increase for K-12 education in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires the secretary of state to refer a ballot issue to voters at the November 2026 general election for approval to increase state public K-12 education funding by up to 2% for 10 years (Sec. 2-9).

• Establishes a positive factor to provide the additional funding for public K-12 school districts based on funding in the 2026-27 budget year (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that funding from the positive factor may only be used by a district for increasing teacher pay, improving teacher retention, lowering class sizes, and increasing access to career and technical courses (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the excess state revenues account in the general fund to consist of excess money beyond certain caps which must first be used to pay school districts for the positive factor established by this Act (Sec. 3).

• Establishes conforming amendments to ensure that voter approval of this Act does not impact the expanded earned income tax credit, the family affordability tax credit, or the affordable housing financing fund (Sec. 6-8).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires the secretary of state to issue a ballot initiative to approve a funding increase for K-12 education in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires the secretary of state to refer a ballot issue to voters at the November 2026 general election for approval to increase state public K-12 education funding by up to 2% for 10 years (Sec. 2-9).

• Establishes a positive factor to provide the additional funding for public K-12 school districts based on funding in the 2026-27 budget year (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that funding from the positive factor may only be used by a district for increasing teacher pay, improving teacher retention, lowering class sizes, and increasing access to career and technical courses (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the excess state revenues account in the general fund to consist of excess money beyond certain caps which must first be used to pay school districts for the positive factor established by this Act (Sec. 3).

• Establishes conforming amendments to ensure that voter approval of this Act does not impact the expanded earned income tax credit, the family affordability tax credit, or the affordable housing financing fund (Sec. 6-8).

Full Bill Text