All Roll Calls
Yes: 211 • No: 65
ColoradoHB26-12592026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Department of Early Childhood Clean-Up
Sponsored By: Emily Sirota (Democratic), Janice Marchman (Democratic), Jeff Bridges (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Child care help with income limits
Counties must provide child care assistance when families leave the Works Program, without a separate application. This automatic transition excludes families leaving for work whose income exceeds 85% of state median income for their family size. Counties must check eligibility again within 12 months. Counties can make early eligibility decisions while a final decision is pending. If a family is later found ineligible, counties cannot recover payments to families or providers for care during that interim period.
Stronger privacy for children's care records
Universal preschool providers, state-licensed child care facilities, and the Department of Early Childhood must keep identifying family records confidential. This covers identifying details about children and their relatives. They cannot release identifying child-level data except to the legally defined person in interest or under a court-issued subpoena or order.
Abuse protections cover more care facilities
Colorado's institutional abuse definition now includes any facility licensed under the state's Part 3 child care rules. It previously referred only to family child care homes licensed under those rules. This brings more licensed facilities within the definition used for institutional abuse.
Coordinated early childhood help for families
Colorado's Early Childhood Leadership Commission must plan and track a coordinated system of early childhood supports. It must work with state and local agencies that provide early childhood or human services. The system must include family support, including help for families to improve their financial situation. These duties do not create a specific household payment or new eligibility rule.
Tribal oversight replaces state licensing rules
Child care facilities approved, certified, or licensed by a tribal government agency are exempt from the state's Part 3 requirements. The tribal agency must have operating standards and inspect or monitor the facility. This exemption recognizes qualifying tribal oversight; it does not create a household payment.
More curriculum choices for preschool grants
Early childhood programs seeking social-emotional learning grants have more curriculum choices. Curricula must still be proven, research-based, support healthy youth development, and have been used successfully by early childhood providers. They no longer need University of Colorado identification or prior use in Colorado. The law does not set a grant amount.
Child mental health program ends younger
Colorado's early childhood mental health consultation program now covers the period before birth through age six, rather than age eight. Children ages seven and eight are no longer within this program's age range. The same narrower range applies to the program's model guidance and related professional training.
Preschool funds follow school-based funding rules
Colorado can fund universal preschool through its General Fund or State Education Fund. Beginning in fiscal year 2026–27, annual baseline funding equals each district's 2022–23 three-year-old enrollment times its 2022–23 per-student funding rate, added statewide. The department distributes this money throughout each year only to districts and charter schools enrolling eligible children, including three-year-olds with disabilities. Districts and charters administer services for eligible children age three and younger without disabilities; priorities must follow state rules, and funds cover direct preschool costs, including disability-related costs. For children without disabilities, community providers can receive department funds only from appropriations above the baseline under community plans; districts can also contract with and transfer funds to Head Start or community providers.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Alex Valdez
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Javier Mabrey
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Jacque Phillips
Democratic • House
Jenny Willford
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Lindsay Gilchrist
Democratic • House
Lori Goldstein
Democratic • House
Michael Carter
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Rick Taggart
Republican • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Dylan Roberts
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Kyle Mullica
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate
Scott Bright
Republican • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/2/2026
Senate amendments: Repass
Yes: 44 • No: 19
House vote • 4/2/2026
Senate amendments: Concur
Yes: 45 • No: 18
Senate vote • 4/1/2026
Third reading: Amend (l.009)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/1/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 32 • No: 3
Senate vote • 3/25/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1259, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
House vote • 3/13/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 44 • No: 18
House vote • 3/11/2026
Refer House Bill 26-1259 to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 7 • No: 4
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/5/2026HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
4/28/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
4/28/2026SenateSent to the Governor
4/28/2026HouseHouse Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
4/2/2026HouseSenate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
4/1/2026SenateSenate Third Reading Laid Over to 04/01/2026 - No Amendments
3/31/2026SenateSenate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee
3/30/2026SenateSenate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
3/25/2026SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
3/18/2026SenateHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/13/2026HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
3/12/2026HouseHouse Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
3/11/2026HouseIntroduced In House - Assigned to Education
2/19/2026House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Senate Education Preamend
Signed Act
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