One week after Colorado lawmakers adjourned the 2026 session, the clearest takeaway is not simply what lawmakers passed but what they chose to prioritize in a year defined by scarcity.
Legislators spent 120 days navigating a budget shortfall estimated at $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion, driven by Medicaid costs, slowing revenue growth and federal uncertainty. Democrats blamed cuts and chaos in Washington. Republicans blamed years of overspending and unchecked program growth. Both sides agreed on one thing: There was not enough money.
The cuts were real. Medicaid became the state’s biggest budget pressure point after costs exceeded projections, particularly in behavioral health and long-term care. Rather than dramatically cutting eligibility, lawmakers slowed spending growth, delayed expansions, leaned on federal matching dollars and cut elsewhere in the budget to keep the program afloat.
Other reductions rippled throughout state government. Agencies were asked to scale back requests. Projects were delayed. Gov. Jared Polis’ request for funding for two new prisons was rejected, with lawmakers instead authorizing the Department of Corrections to explore contracting for beds at previously closed private facilities. Of more than 600 bills introduced this session, many with significant fiscal impacts, were either killed outright or rewritten to reduce costs.
Even amid those constraints, lawmakers pursued some of Colorado’s most contentious policy fights.
Democrats passed bills allowing lawsuits against federal immigration authorities over alleged constitutional violations and expanding state oversight of immigration detention facilities. Another measure requires colleges and universities with student health centers to provide access to abortion medication. Lawmakers also approved changes to vaccine policy allowing Colorado to rely on guidance from medical organizations instead of federal recommendations.
Colorado continued its struggle over firearms regulation. Senate Bill 25-003 creates new training and permitting requirements for purchases of certain semiautomatic firearms beginning Aug. 1. Supporters say it promotes responsible ownership and public safety. Critics argue it infringes on constitutional rights.
Reasonable people can disagree on those policies. But public debate still depends on facts.
Recently, we published a letter (Herald, May 18) claiming that the law would require hunters to renew their hunter education certification every five years and would give Colorado Parks and Wildlife authority over concealed-carry instruction. According to CPW officials charged with implementing the law, both claims are false. Hunter education remains a one-time certification. The five-year renewal applies only to the firearm safety course required under SB25-003. CPW also says it has no authority over concealed-carry curriculum.
Opponents are entitled to challenge the law, criticize its merits or campaign for repeal. But misinformation does not strengthen the argument.
The session also exposed tensions over Colorado’s economic future, particularly surrounding artificial intelligence and data centers. Lawmakers approved a compromise AI-regulation bill requiring disclosure when AI influences decisions involving jobs, loans or college admissions, while competing data-center bills failed in the session’s final days. One offered tax incentives to attract development. The other sought stricter water and energy protections.
In the end, lawmakers reached no consensus. Colorado will continue without major subsidies for data centers – but also without meaningful statewide guardrails on their environmental impact.
The debate underscores Colorado’s difficult balance between climate goals, affordability and competing in the AI economy.
Another revealing discussion emerged about prison overcrowding. Senate Bill 159 modestly expands earned-time credits and creates a working group to address chronic overcrowding in state prisons. Supporters described it as pragmatic management of an unsustainable system. Critics called it soft on crime.
A letter we publish today from a current inmate argues Colorado’s prison crisis reflects decades of costly expansion and poor management. The point underscores a reality lawmakers must confront: Systems built during years of expansion are becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to sustain.
To lawmakers’ credit, not all major legislation fell along partisan lines. Sen. Cleave Simpson helped lead bipartisan legislation addressing Colorado’s growing backlog of mentally ill defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial, while Rep. Katie Stewart advanced bipartisan jail sexual-abuse protections following allegations involving a former La Plata County Jail commander.
This session revealed difficult choices shaping Colorado’s future. Faced with painful fiscal constraints, lawmakers still found room for battles over immigration, abortion, firearms, artificial intelligence and criminal justice.
Voters will decide whether those were the right priorities.
