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type, title, description, jurisdiction, legislature, session, identifier, citation, classification, subjects, status, primary_sponsors, version_count, action_count, vote_count, first_action, last_action, source, source_identifier, source_url, source_hash, vintage, source_snapshot, retrieved_at, confidence, tags
type title description jurisdiction legislature session identifier citation classification subjects status primary_sponsors version_count action_count vote_count first_action last_action source source_identifier source_url source_hash vintage source_snapshot retrieved_at confidence tags
Bill Accessible Language Statutory Ballot Title Requirements Under current law, the title board must set a ballot title for an initiative petition that is brief, does not conflict with another title for an initiative petition filed for the same election, and is in the form of a question that may be answered 'yes/for' or 'no/against' and that unambiguously states the principle of the provision sought to be added, amended, or repealed by the initiative. The act adds a requirement that the title board write a ballot title using accessible language, which means plain language that is understood by the widest possible audience. In determining whether a ballot title is written using accessible language, the title board may consider whether the title:Avoids using legal, technical, or specialized terminology when possible;Clearly identifies the principal change in law or policy proposed by the proposed statutory or constitutional amendment;Avoids unnecessary qualifiers, double negatives, and overly complex phrasing;Organizes clauses so that the effect of a 'yes/for' or 'no/against' vote is readily understood; andPresents necessary information within the ballot title in a logical and readable order. In addition, current law requires that specific language appear in the ballot title for certain initiatives that increase or reduce tax revenue. For initiatives that reduce state tax revenue or local district property tax revenue through a tax change, this required language must appear at the beginning of the ballot title. For initiatives that increase tax revenue for any district through a tax change, this required language must appear directly after language required by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. The act modifies these statutory provisions so that the required ballot title language must only be substantially similar to the specific statutory language and may appear anywhere in the ballot title. The act applies to initiative petitions submitted to the secretary of state for title setting on or after the effective date of the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) us/states/co Colorado General Assembly 2026A HB 1320 Colorado HB 1320 (2026A)
bill
Elections & Redistricting
State Government
enacted
A. Benavidez
K. Nguyen
L. García
7 15 9 2026-03-04 2026-05-29 openstates ocd-bill/b40c5ec9-ad55-4a89-83b2-b2596fbddf2e https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1320 ab9b785efc865c1a5f53b2d2e5287379c72a2e880c5f0ee802a719d2e06a12c3 2026-07-01 https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump 2026-07-06 reported
legislation
bill
us-co

Colorado HB 1320 (2026A) — Accessible Language Statutory Ballot Title Requirements

Under current law, the title board must set a ballot title for an initiative petition that is brief, does not conflict with another title for an initiative petition filed for the same election, and is in the form of a question that may be answered 'yes/for' or 'no/against' and that unambiguously states the principle of the provision sought to be added, amended, or repealed by the initiative. The act adds a requirement that the title board write a ballot title using accessible language, which means plain language that is understood by the widest possible audience. In determining whether a ballot title is written using accessible language, the title board may consider whether the title:Avoids using legal, technical, or specialized terminology when possible;Clearly identifies the principal change in law or policy proposed by the proposed statutory or constitutional amendment;Avoids unnecessary qualifiers, double negatives, and overly complex phrasing;Organizes clauses so that the effect of a 'yes/for' or 'no/against' vote is readily understood; andPresents necessary information within the ballot title in a logical and readable order. In addition, current law requires that specific language appear in the ballot title for certain initiatives that increase or reduce tax revenue. For initiatives that reduce state tax revenue or local district property tax revenue through a tax change, this required language must appear at the beginning of the ballot title. For initiatives that increase tax revenue for any district through a tax change, this required language must appear directly after language required by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. The act modifies these statutory provisions so that the required ballot title language must only be substantially similar to the specific statutory language and may appear anywhere in the ballot title. The act applies to initiative petitions submitted to the secretary of state for title setting on or after the effective date of the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

  1. Introduced (filed) — source
  2. Engrossed (committee substitute) — source
  3. Final Act (committee substitute) — source
  4. Reengrossed (committee substitute) — source
  5. Rerevised (committee substitute) — source
  6. Revised (committee substitute) — source
  7. Signed Act (committee substitute) — source

Votes

  • LIMIT — pass (pass) · lower
  • Refer House Bill 26-1320, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. — pass (pass) · lower
  • AMD (H.002) — fail (fail) · lower
  • AMD (H.001) — fail (fail) · lower
  • Refer House Bill 26-1320, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. — pass (pass) · upper
  • Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C). — pass (pass) · lower
  • CONCUR — pass (pass) · upper
  • REPASS — pass (pass) · upper
  • BILL — pass (pass) · lower

Sponsors

  • A. Benavidez — primary (person)
  • K. Nguyen — primary (person)
  • L. García — primary (person)
  • A. Boesenecker — cosponsor (person)
  • B. Titone — cosponsor (person)
  • C. Clifford — cosponsor (person)
  • C. Kipp — cosponsor (person)
  • C. Kolker — cosponsor (person)
  • E. Sirota — cosponsor (person)
  • E. Velasco — cosponsor (person)
  • I. Jodeh — cosponsor (person)
  • J. Bacon — cosponsor (person)
  • J. Coleman — cosponsor (person)
  • J. Gonzales — cosponsor (person)
  • J. Jackson — cosponsor (person)
  • J. Joseph — cosponsor (person)
  • J. Marchman — cosponsor (person)
  • J. McCluskie — cosponsor (person)
  • K. Brown — cosponsor (person)
  • K. Wallace — cosponsor (person)
  • L. Cutter — cosponsor (person)
  • M. Duran — cosponsor (person)
  • M. Froelich — cosponsor (person)
  • M. Lindsay — cosponsor (person)
  • M. Rutinel — cosponsor (person)
  • M. Snyder — cosponsor (person)
  • N. Hinrichsen — cosponsor (person)
  • R. Rodriguez — cosponsor (person)
  • R. Stewart — cosponsor (person)
  • T. Exum — cosponsor (person)
  • T. Story — cosponsor (person)
  • T. Sullivan — cosponsor (person)
  • Y. Zokaie — cosponsor (person)

Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

  • 2026-05-29 Governor Signed executive-signature
  • 2026-05-21 Sent to the Governor executive-receipt
  • 2026-05-21 Signed by the President of the Senate passage
  • 2026-05-21 Signed by the Speaker of the House passage
  • 2026-05-04 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
  • 2026-04-28 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
  • 2026-04-27 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments passage, reading-3
  • 2026-04-24 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee reading-2
  • 2026-04-21 Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole committee-passage, referral-committee
  • 2026-03-31 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs introduction
  • 2026-03-27 House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments passage, reading-3
  • 2026-03-26 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
  • 2026-03-25 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
  • 2026-03-23 House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole committee-passage, referral-committee
  • 2026-03-04 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs introduction

Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot 2026-07-01; origin ocd-bill/b40c5ec9-ad55-4a89-83b2-b2596fbddf2e. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Colorado legislature records).