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ColoradoSB26-1562026 Regular SessionSenate

Change Practices of Work Force Development Council

Sponsored By: Cathy Kipp (Democratic), Jacque Phillips (Democratic), John Carson (Republican), Ryan Gonzalez (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Business & Economic Development

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Colorado aligns training with job needs

Colorado’s workforce, education, labor, and economic development agencies must jointly study job needs and coordinate training and career exploration. Growing industries must be expected to add jobs annually for at least 10 years or match Colorado’s economic strategy. Top jobs must have strong expected annual openings over 10 years and high wages under the Colorado Talent Report. Agencies must assess employer feedback, training capacity, skills needs, and jobs eligible for federal support. The annual Talent Report tracks progress and recommends improvements; department heads must prepare summaries by January 1 for legislative hearings. K–12 student information must be shared only in grouped form that does not identify students.

More career-readiness coordination for young people

Beginning August 12, 2026, Colorado’s statewide coordinator must help expand career-readiness opportunities for high school students, graduates, and out-of-school youth. The coordinator assists local workforce centers and education providers and connects them with employers, colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Duties include expanding college enrollment while in high school, work-based learning, industry-based courses, and routes to job credentials. The coordinator must also help access state and federal workforce funds and increase participation in career pathways. The workforce council and education department must evaluate this work annually using data and summarize results in the Colorado Talent Report.

School building grants consider growing industries

Public school career and technical education building grants are authorized from fiscal year 2019–20 onward. Beginning August 12, 2026, the grant board must consider whether each proposed project serves a growing industry. The board must use the most recent Colorado Talent Report to identify those industries and may consider other factors. This rule does not guarantee a grant, and the provided text sets no grant amount, cap, or end date.

Students get free career pathway information

After a career pathway is completed, Colorado’s workforce council must coordinate outreach and training to inform students about it. The council and state higher education and labor agencies must also publish completed pathways on a free state website. The website must include career information, pay, job forecasts, training programs and services, financial-aid opportunities, and online student support. Online publication depends on available state funding or money from other sources.

Students get updated career training routes

Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, Colorado’s workforce council and partners must create or update career pathways each year. These routes connect education and training to in-demand jobs in growing industries, with at least one ready for use annually. This work depends on available state funding or money from other sources, and industry groups must review each pathway annually. When designing or updating programs, schools may include pathways in advising and connect courses to industry-recognized credentials that build on each other. Schools may also include work-based learning with industry partners; these school practices are allowed, not required.

Colorado workforce council funding is reduced

For fiscal year 2026–27, the law reduces General Fund money for the Workforce Development Council by $46,605. This money is appropriated through the Division of Employment and Training. The cut applies only if that year’s General Appropriation Act is law, starting on the later of the two laws’ effective dates. No cut is required if the appropriation is below $46,605 or the budget provides no money for this purpose. The change reduces state program funding, not direct household payments.

Manufacturing and energy pathway requirements end

The law removes the requirement to use the manufacturing career pathway model and its listed parts. It also ends the requirement to create an energy-sector career pathway. The SPARC workforce development program no longer must provide money and other support for jobs in that energy pathway. These changes remove specific state duties; they do not automatically end all manufacturing or energy training programs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • John Carson

    Republican • Senate

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 109 • No: 23

House vote • 5/11/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 47 • No: 17

House vote • 5/8/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-156 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 2

House vote • 5/6/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-156 to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 9 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 32 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/28/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-156, 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 • 4/23/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-156, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/2/2026House

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/21/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/21/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/21/2026House

  5. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/11/2026House

  6. House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    5/9/2026House

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

    5/8/2026House

  8. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

    5/8/2026House

  9. House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Unamended to Appropriations

    5/6/2026House

  10. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/29/2026Senate

  11. Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor

    4/29/2026House

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

    4/28/2026Senate

  13. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    4/28/2026Senate

  14. Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Amended to Appropriations

    4/23/2026Senate

  15. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology

    4/7/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Preamend (2)

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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