PRIA Logo™
ColoradoHB26-12992026 Regular SessionHouse

Reducing Regulatory Burden on Education Providers

Sponsored By: Byron Pelton (Republican), Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Lori Garcia Sander (Republican), Meghan Lukens (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Missing children checked against school records

Colorado's Bureau of Investigation sends its missing-children list to the Department of Education instead of individual school districts. The department checks the list against public-school enrollment records. It reports matches or last-known school enrollment information to the bureau, which must notify the law-enforcement agency that reported the child. Shared information stays confidential and is only for law-enforcement use.

Schools gain protection from data pressure

Colorado's Department of Education cannot label a voluntary data request as required. This protects school districts, public schools, and the State Charter School Institute. The department also cannot tie benefits unrelated to a specific grant to completing a voluntary request. Conditions specifically tied to a grant remain allowed.

Small school systems can combine plans

Colorado school districts with 1,200 students or fewer can submit one plan to meet district and school planning requirements. Charter networks with 1,200 students or fewer can submit one plan for their schools if they have one authorizer. This means one entity must authorize all schools in the network. Combining submissions is optional, and the underlying planning requirements stay unchanged.

Less school paperwork, fewer parent notices

Colorado schools no longer need written policies about using paper instead of computers for parts of state tests. The law also removes required parent consultation, sharing, and posting of those policies—not state testing itself. The law's changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. after the 90-day period following the 2025–2026 session's final adjournment. That date is estimated as August 12, 2026, if lawmakers adjourn May 13. A referendum petition delays the changes unless voters approve them in November 2026. After voter approval, they take effect when the governor officially declares the vote.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Byron Pelton

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeff Bridges

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Garcia Sander

    Republican • House

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Bob Marshall

    Democratic • House

  • Carlos Barron

    Republican • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Chris Richardson

    Republican • House

  • Dan Woog

    Republican • House

  • Gretchen Rydin

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Julie McCluskie

    Democratic • House

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Lori Goldstein

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

  • Rebecca Keltie

    Republican • House

  • Ron Weinberg

    Republican • House

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 116 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/4/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1299 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 3/20/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1299, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/1/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/29/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/29/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/29/2026House

  5. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/4/2026Senate

  6. Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/1/2026Senate

  7. Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/29/2026Senate

  8. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education

    3/25/2026Senate

  9. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/20/2026House

  10. House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    3/18/2026House

  11. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    3/17/2026House

  12. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    3/16/2026House

  13. House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/11/2026House

  14. Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

    2/25/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation