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ColoradoSB26-1502026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Modernizing Regional Transportation District

Sponsored By: Iman Jodeh (Democratic), Jamie Jackson (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Meg Froelich (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Transportation & Motor Vehicles

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Transit access plan reviews fares and service

RTD must complete, adopt, and begin implementing an accessible transportation service plan by December 31, 2027. An independent paratransit study informs the plan; RTD must hire the study contractor by December 31, 2026. The study examines rider needs, service reliability, delivery options, and fare and subsidy changes beginning January 1, 2026. The plan must address access, reliability, fairness, long-term costs, fares, subsidies, service limits, and barriers to low-income fare discounts. It must include rider and regional partner input, priority actions, timelines, progress reports, and ongoing updates. RTD must submit and present the study and plan to the named legislative transportation committees within 90 days of each one's completion. The law requires planning and implementation, but guarantees no specific fare cut or service expansion.

Transit board strengthens budget and management oversight

Beginning August 12, 2026, RTD's board must set goals, including goals directly aimed at growing ridership. It must evaluate its top manager using measures tied to the strategic plan, and its chief lawyer reports directly to the board. The board must adopt and oversee a responsible budget, with annual capital budgets showing project costs and financing. Board action requires five affirmative votes from members present and voting, down from eight. The board may choose a chair for multiple two-year terms, a temporary chair, and one or more secretaries and treasurers.

Transit directors must disclose and avoid conflicts

Beginning August 12, 2026, RTD directors must disclose personal interests in board matters, avoid voting, and not influence other directors. Prospective appointees must disclose potential conflicts before Senate confirmation; appointed directors disclose later conflicts at public board meetings. Failure to disclose known conflicts, or acting on an undisclosed conflict, is grounds for the Governor to remove appointed directors. Directors who currently belong to RTD's largest employee union must sit out decisions directly concerning that unit's bargaining, labor agreements, or employment terms. The Governor may also remove appointees for misconduct, neglect, or repeated absences; two consecutive unexplained absences trigger notice from the chair.

Higher public pay for transit directors

RTD directors elected in November 2028 or later, or appointed in 2028 or later, receive $36,000 annually. Pay rises or falls with the annual change in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index for urban consumers. A chair selected after the November 2028 election receives 150% of the applicable director salary, initially $54,000. These salaries are RTD expenses, not new rider fees.

Smaller transit board mixes elections and appointments

Beginning January 1, 2029, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) board shrinks from 15 elected members to nine members. Five are elected; four are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. State staff must draw five compact, connected districts by September 15, 2027, for the November 2028 election. After the 2030 census and each later census, the independent commission redraws them through the state legislative district process. Appointees must live in RTD and represent the whole district, with geographic and demographic diversity. Together, they must bring skills in public finance, transportation and land-use planning, transit operations, and services for disproportionately impacted communities. At least one must be a current or former member of RTD's largest employee union. Initially, one appointment comes from a Denver Regional Council of Governments nominee list; three are at the Governor's discretion. The council and union provide lists for designated appointments; council lists must contain at least three nominees per vacancy. The Governor can fill seats when the council fails to provide its list and also fills appointed-seat vacancies. Appointees may serve two four-year terms; terms shorter than two years do not count.

Transit voters get recall and term limits

Directors elected from RTD's new districts are limited to two four-year terms and eight total years on the board. Terms shorter than two years do not count toward the two-term limit; service before January 1, 2029, counts. Eligible district voters may recall their elected director through state recall procedures. Moving outside the district automatically creates a vacancy. County commissioners appoint replacements, except when most district voters live in Denver, where the mayor appoints with city council approval. Replacements serve until the next regular election, when voters choose someone for the rest of the term.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Matt Ball

    Democratic • Senate

  • Meg Froelich

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • William Lindstedt

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 134 • No: 73

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

House amendments: Concur

Yes: 31 • No: 1

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

House amendments: Repass

Yes: 19 • No: 13

House vote • 5/4/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 39 • No: 26

House vote • 4/28/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-150, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 4

House vote • 4/28/2026

Adopt amendment L.036 (Attachment G)

Yes: 4 • No: 9

Senate vote • 4/21/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 21 • No: 13

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-150, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Adopt amendment L.013

Yes: 3 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/26/2026House

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/18/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/18/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/18/2026House

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

    5/5/2026Senate

  6. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/4/2026House

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

    5/1/2026House

  8. House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    4/29/2026House

  9. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    4/29/2026House

  10. House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    4/28/2026House

  11. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/21/2026Senate

  12. Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

    4/21/2026House

  13. Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    4/20/2026Senate

  14. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/20/2026 - No Amendments

    4/17/2026Senate

  15. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/17/2026 - No Amendments

    4/16/2026Senate

  16. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/16/2026 - No Amendments

    4/14/2026Senate

  17. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/14/2026 - No Amendments

    4/13/2026Senate

  18. Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/8/2026Senate

  19. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy

    3/30/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Transportation & Energy Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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