Under the Dome: Weekly Legislative Pulse
Welcome to our Legislative Insights Hub, where we provide comprehensive weekly updates on the latest developments at the state legislature. From key policy debates and bill progressions to budget negotiations and committee discussions, these reports offer an in-depth look at the decisions shaping our state’s future. Stay informed on pressing legislative issues, emerging trends, and the political dynamics influencing critical policy areas. Whether you’re tracking industry regulations, advocacy efforts, or broader legislative changes, our reports will keep you up to date with the most relevant and timely information from under the dome.
2026 Weekly Archive
Week 18 – Sine Die
2026 Colorado State Legislative Session – House of Representatives: 43 Democrats, 22 Republicans Senate: 23 Democrats, 12 Republicans Number of bills introduced: 632 Number of bills signed by the Governor as of May 13, 2026: 156 Number of bills vetoed as of May 13, 2026: 0 Last day for the Governor to act: Friday, June 12, 2026. Bills with a safety clause are effective immediately upon signature by the Governor. The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 12, 2026, unless otherwise specified in the legislation.
Week 17
As the legislature entered the final full week of the 2026 regular legislative session, hundreds of bills remained in contention. The Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate met nearly every day to work through the backlog.
Following introduction last Friday, SB 189 Automated Decision-Making Technology moved quickly through the Senate, passing the Business Affairs & Labor and Appropriations Committees unanimously before getting approval 34-1 from the full Senate on Thursday.
Week 16
Today marks the 108th day of this legislative session, with adjournment required by midnight on Wednesday, May 13. Bill introductions continued this week despite the limited amount of time remaining in session, with a handful of significant measures read across the desk including in the Senate SB 180 Investment Performance Authority and SB 189 Automated Decision-Making Technology. SB 189 is sponsored by Senate President Coleman and Senate Majority Leader Rodriguez and has been assigned to the Senate Business Affairs and Labor Committee. On Monday, a federal judge issued a delay in enforcing Colorado’s artificial intelligence law. The lawsuit against Senate Bill 24-205 was filed by Elon Musk on behalf of his xAI company. The Trump administration joined the lawsuit last week.
Week 14
The legislature worked in committees and on the floor this week, with the Senate focused primarily on the budget while the House moved on to other matters. Nearly 600 bills have been introduced, and the Governor has signed 74 bills into law so far including earlier today SB 118 Legacy Giving to Charitable Organizations.
Week 13
As of Friday, 581 bills have been introduced since the General Assembly convened in January. Monday marks the 90th legislative day in the 120-day session, and the schedule and pace are intensifying at the same time that many legislators are also looking ahead to the June primary election and November general election. Colorado Republicans convene in Pueblo on Saturday for their state assembly. Democrats held their state assembly on March 28.
Week 12
On Monday, Governor Polis’s head of the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing Kim Bimestefer resigned in the face of increased scrutiny and a draft resolution of no-confidence circulating in the Senate. Bimestefer was first appointed in 2018 during the final year of Governor John Hickenlooper’s term and was retained in that role when Polis took office. On Thursday, Polis named Gretchen Hammer the new acting director of HCPF.
Week 11
The legislature was busy in committees and on the floor this week, working through the nearly 500 bills that have been introduced thus far in the session. Most days saw the six members of the Joint Budget Committee excused from floor work to meet as a committee and vote on orbital bills and budget allocations for state agencies.
Week 10
Now past the halfway mark, the legislature is in full swing. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Rodriguez announced updated committee assignments necessitated by the resignation of former Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet and the appointment of Senator Adrienne Benavidez to complete her term. The Senate Health & Human Services Committee was reduced from a 9-member committee to a 7-member committee with 5 Democrats and 2 Republicans.
Week 9
The legislative session reaches the halfway point this weekend, and lawmakers are working late into the evenings more often in committees as they work through the hundreds of bills that have been introduced thus far. In contrast to most other states, Colorado’s constitution requires that every bill introduced must have a public hearing.
Week 8
Early this week, it was announced that Denver is a finalist to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, named to the shortlist along with four other cities. Denver last hosted a national convention in 2008 when Barack Obama accepted the nomination at the Denver Broncos stadium ahead of his first successful presidential campaign.
Week 7
The Senate met early on Monday morning to elect a new President Pro Tem, to fill the leadership role vacated due to the resignation of Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet. Cathy Kipp (D-Larimer County) will serve in this position going forward. On Thursday evening, a local vacancy committee met and appointed Andrienne Benevidez to serve in Senate District 21.
Week 6
The legislature convened again in regular session on Tuesday this week, following the Presidents Day holiday. Dozens more bills were introduced this week, bringing the total number to more than 400. Included in the stack of new bills are substantial proposals that have been in the works for months.
Week 4
Dozens of new bills were introduced this week, bringing the total number of bills introduced thus far to 254. Some of the most anticipated bills of the year are yet to come including the Public Utilities Commission Sunset and bills on price and wage surveillance, the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise, and artificial intelligence.
Week 3
On Monday, legislative Democrats held a press conference to tout three bills that they plan to run during the 2026 session taking aim at surveillance, captive-audience and wholesale pricing. Of these, only one has been introduced so far: HB 1012 Consumer Protections to Promote Fair Market Pricing, which would add requirements for price disclosures on delivery apps and require that vendors in “captive audience” areas such as stadiums, hospitals and airports, price what they are selling at the average price for a comparable item in the surrounding county.
Week 2
Colorado’s General Assembly resumed business on Tuesday morning, after Monday’s closure in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr Day. The week was filled with SMART Act hearings with state agencies in committees of reference, and Joint Budget Committee meetings with committees of reference and votes on supplemental adjustments to the FY 25-26 budget.
Week 1
Colorado’s General Assembly convened this week, with leadership in the House and Senate presenting opening day remarks on Wednesday and Governor Polis delivering his 8th and final State of State address on Thursday. Policymaker priorities from affordable housing and healthcare to public safety and artificial intelligence will have to be worked out in a tightly constrained fiscal environment in 2026.
