Colorado Bill Designates Thriving Higher Education Institutions

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

Colorado Bill HB26-1006 proposes to establish a designation for 'thriving institutions' within the state's higher education system. The bill outlines requirements for the Department of Higher Education to identify, notify, and recognize institutions that meet specific outcome standards, with an advisory committee providing input on these standards.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

Colorado Bill HB26-1006, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, aims to create a formal designation for 'thriving institutions' within the state's higher education system. The bill mandates the Department of Higher Education to establish criteria and outcome standards, identify qualifying institutions, and publicly list those that accept the designation. An advisory committee will be formed to guide the department on these standards and report on progress towards state attainment and workforce goals.

Compliance officers at Colorado higher education institutions should monitor the progress of this bill. If enacted, institutions will need to understand the specific outcome standards and recognition criteria set by the Department of Higher Education and its advisory committee. Institutions will have a 10-day window to decide whether to accept the 'thriving institution' designation once notified, and their decision will be publicly posted. The bill also requires reporting to the General Assembly and relevant commissions, impacting institutional reporting and strategic alignment with state goals.

What to do next

Monitor legislative progress of HB26-1006.
Review forthcoming outcome standards and recognition criteria from the Department of Higher Education.
Prepare to respond within 10 days if notified of eligibility for 'thriving institution' designation.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1006

Thriving Institution Designations for Higher Education

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Higher Education |
Concerning the designation of state institutions of higher education as thriving institutions.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

The bill requires the department of higher education (department) to:

Identify institutions of higher education (institutions) that meet the definition and outcome standards to be designated as a thriving institution;
Notify each institution that meets the outcome standards to be designated as a thriving institution and request the institution to respond within 10 calendar days with the institution's decision of whether to be recognized as a thriving institution;
Post on the department's website the names of the institutions that earn a thriving institution designation and agree to be listed as a thriving institution; and
Notify the general assembly of the names of the institutions that are recognized as thriving institutions. The bill requires the department to establish an advisory committee to provide input to the department on the outcome and recognition standards, and continuous improvements set by the department to identify institutions that meet the requirements for one or more thriving institution designations.

The bill requires the advisory committee to submit a report to the department summarizing the outcome standards for thriving institution designations determined by the advisory committee, practices and continuous improvement efforts, and recommendations for policy or resource alignment to support the state's attainment and workforce goals. The department is required to include this report as part of its "SMART Act" hearing and submit the report to the Colorado commission on higher education and to each institution of higher education's governing board.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Elizabeth Velasco
Representative

Matthew Martinez
Senator

Dylan Roberts

Committees

House

Education Appropriations

If you require reasonable accessibility accommodation to access this content, please email accessibility@coleg.gov.

Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Tue

Mar 24

House General Orders - Second Reading of Bills

9:00 AM House Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 01/14/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/06/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/18/2026 | First Revised Fiscal Note | PDF |
| 01/28/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/18/2026 | SA1 | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1006 to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 9-2. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment L.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Adopt amendment L.002 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Adopt amendment L.003 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1006, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | The motion passed on a vote of 8-4. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/05/2026 | L.003 | HOU Education | Passed [] | PDF |
| 02/05/2026 | L.002 | HOU Education | Passed [] | PDF |
| 02/05/2026 | L.001 | HOU Education | Passed [*] | PDF |
* Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.

** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.

| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/20/2026 | House | House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/05/2026 | House | House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations |
| 01/14/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Education |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. M. Martinez | Rep. E. Velasco

Sen. D. Roberts

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

(None)