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ColoradoSB26-0802026 Regular SessionSenate

Cradle to Career Grant Program Creation

Sponsored By: Cleave Simpson (Republican), James Coleman (Democratic), Meghan Lukens (Democratic), Regina English (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Human Services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Donation-backed funding for family service grants

The law creates a state fund for Cradle to Career grants, administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services. It accepts gifts, grants, donations, interest, and other money appropriated or transferred into it. The legislature must approve spending each year, and the law prohibits General Fund appropriations for the program. The fund balance must reach $900,000 before the department can award grants. Subject to available funding, the department must award at least two grants by July 1, 2027.

Safety and equal access for families

Grant-funded groups must follow state and local health and safety rules and require name-based criminal history checks for employees. Employees handling money must show financial responsibility. Recipients must follow open-records and nondiscrimination laws, and shared data must follow state and federal privacy laws. They must serve people without regard to legally protected traits or past academic or disciplinary history. Annual grantee reports begin October 1, 2028; department reports to lawmakers and the governor begin December 31, 2028. Reports track services, people served, and results such as family financial security, education, and wealth-building.

New community grants to help families

Colorado creates grants for coordinated services supporting children, youth under 25, and families—not direct household payments. Eligible applicants include local governments, schools, state colleges, tribes, and community nonprofits. Service areas must have at least 30% of households with children earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. Grants support housing stability, nutrition, health care access, education, job readiness, and wealth-building. Applicants must submit a community needs assessment and a service plan; grants need advisory council approval. Grants last four years, and recipients can request a one- or two-year extension. Two or more eligible groups can apply together, receiving the combined amounts available through separate applications. Department-approved partnerships can pay eligible service providers and must include a local government, a local education provider, and a community nonprofit.

Family grant program ends in 2033

The Cradle to Career Grant Program and its advisory council are scheduled to end September 1, 2033. The repeal provision has an effective date of August 12, 2026. A timely referendum petition against the act or this provision requires voter approval at the November 2026 general election. In that case, the provision takes effect when the governor officially declares the vote.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Cleave Simpson

    Republican • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Brianna Titone

    Democratic • House

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessie Danielson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

  • William Lindstedt

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 75

House vote • 5/13/2026

Third reading: Perm

Yes: 52 • No: 13

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

House amendments: Concur

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

House amendments: Repass

Yes: 30 • No: 5

House vote • 5/13/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 41 • No: 24

House vote • 5/12/2026

Reconsider SB 26-080

Yes: 6 • No: 5

House vote • 5/12/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-080, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 8 • No: 3

House vote • 5/11/2026

Postpone Senate Bill 26-080 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.

Yes: 6 • No: 5

House vote • 5/11/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-080 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 6

House vote • 5/7/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-080, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 7 • No: 3

House vote • 4/30/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-080 to the Committee on Finance.

Yes: 7 • No: 6

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 31 • No: 4

Senate vote • 4/10/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-080, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/26/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-080, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/4/2026House

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/19/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/19/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/19/2026House

  5. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/13/2026House

  6. Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

    5/13/2026Senate

  7. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    5/12/2026House

  8. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    5/12/2026House

  9. House Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely

    5/11/2026House

  10. House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations

    5/7/2026House

  11. House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Finance

    4/30/2026House

  12. House Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

    4/22/2026House

  13. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/13/2026Senate

  14. Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

    4/13/2026House

  15. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/10/2026Senate

  16. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    4/10/2026Senate

  17. Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing Refer Amended to Appropriations

    2/26/2026Senate

  18. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing

    2/6/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Finance Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • Senate Local Government & Housing Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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