Colorado Bill HB26-1175: State Education Fund Spending for Education and Teacher Programs

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

Colorado bill HB26-1175 proposes changes to the State Education Fund. It would discontinue annual transfers to specific cash funds and instead allow direct appropriations for the Colorado Teacher of the Year program and require significant funding for the Colorado READ Act. The bill aims to streamline funding for key educational initiatives.

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What changed

Colorado bill HB26-1175, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, proposes significant changes to how the State Education Fund is utilized. The bill aims to discontinue existing annual transfers to the Colorado Teacher of the Year fund and the early literacy fund. Instead, it would permit direct appropriations from the State Education Fund for the Colorado Teacher of the Year program and mandate appropriations of at least $34 million for purposes supporting the "Colorado READ Act." The existing cash funds are slated for repeal effective September 1, 2027.

This legislation will impact educational institutions and state budgeting processes. Compliance officers should monitor the bill's progress through the legislative session. If enacted, the changes will alter the funding mechanisms for teacher recognition and early literacy programs, potentially requiring adjustments in how these programs are administered and accounted for. The bill's effective date and specific appropriation details will need careful review upon finalization.

What to do next

Monitor legislative progress of HB26-1175.
Review fiscal note for detailed financial implications.
Prepare for potential changes in funding allocation for teacher programs and literacy initiatives if the bill is enacted.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1175

State Education Fund Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act & Colorado Teacher of the Year Program

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) |
Concerning spending from the state education fund for specified educational purposes, and, in connection therewith, permitting appropriations from the state education fund for the Colorado teacher of the year program and requiring appropriations from the state education fund for specified purposes in support of the "Colorado READ Act", discontinuing annual transfers to cash funds from the state education fund for the same, and repealing the cash funds.

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

Joint Budget Committee. Under existing law, money is annually transferred from the state education fund to the Colorado teacher of the year fund for the Colorado teacher of the year program and to the early literacy fund to fund specified purposes in support of the "Colorado READ Act".

The bill discontinues the annual transfers and instead permits the general assembly to appropriate money from the state education fund for the Colorado teacher of the year program and requires the general assembly to appropriate at least $34 million from the state education fund for the same specified purposes in support of the "Colorado READ Act". The bill repeals the Colorado teacher of the year fund and the early literacy fund, effective September 1, 2027.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Kyle Brown
Representative

Emily Sirota
Senator

Jeff Bridges
Senator

Barbara Kirkmeyer

Committees

House

Appropriations

Senate

Appropriations

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Status

Passed

Introduced

Passed

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/11/2026 | Final Act | PDF |
| 02/20/2026 | Rerevised | PDF |
| 02/19/2026 | Revised | PDF |
| 02/12/2026 | Reengrossed | PDF |
| 02/12/2026 | Engrossed (2) | PDF |
| 02/11/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 02/06/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/06/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/17/2026 | SA1 | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1175 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1175 to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 10-1. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/20/2026 | Third Reading | BILL | 33 AYE 0 NO 1 OTHER | Vote record |

| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/12/2026 | Third Reading | BILL | 63 AYE 0 NO 2 OTHER | Vote record |

| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/17/2026 | Governor | Sent to the Governor |
| 03/17/2026 | Senate | Signed by the President of the Senate |
| 03/16/2026 | House | Signed by the Speaker of the House |
| 02/20/2026 | Senate | Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/19/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/18/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 02/17/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations |
| 02/12/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/11/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/10/2026 | House | House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/06/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. K. Brown | Rep. E. Sirota

Sen. J. Bridges | Sen. B. Kirkmeyer

Sponsor

Rep. R. Taggart

Sen. J. Amabile

Co-Sponsor