Charter School Involvement in Local Ballot Questions (SB26-145)
Summary
Colorado SB26-145 proposes to require school districts considering ballot questions to solicit capital construction proposals from charter schools. The bill would mandate that district boards notify charter schools whether their construction needs will be included in ballot questions, and encourage inclusion of institute charter schools within district boundaries. The legislation applies to both traditional and institute charter schools seeking capital funding through local mill levies or bonded indebtedness.
What changed
SB26-145 would mandate that Colorado school districts proactively solicit capital construction proposals from their charter schools before placing any ballot question on the ballot. District boards would be required to formally notify charter schools whether they will include the schools' construction needs in ballot questions. The bill also encourages districts to solicit proposals from institute charter schools and include their funding needs in relevant ballot questions.
For charter schools with capital construction needs, the bill creates an explicit pathway to request inclusion in district ballot questions rather than relying solely on the district's initiative. For school districts, the bill imposes new procedural obligations to solicit and respond to charter school proposals before initiating ballot question processes. Educational institutions should monitor the bill's progress as it could affect how charter school facilities are funded in Colorado.
What to do next
- Monitor SB26-145 as it moves through the Colorado legislature
- School districts: prepare procedures for soliciting charter school capital construction proposals
- Charter schools: develop processes for submitting capital construction needs to districts
Archived snapshot
Apr 14, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
SB26-145
Charter School Involvement in Local Ballot Questions
| Type | Bill |
|---|---|
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) |
Concerning charter school involvement in local ballot questions.
Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:
Under current law, subject to procedural requirements, a charter school that has capital construction needs may seek money to fund these needs by requesting that its chartering school district (district):
- Submit a ballot question to the district's voters concerning a special mill levy; or
Include the charter school's capital construction needs in the district's ballot question for bonded indebtedness or for an additional mill levy.
The bill:Requires a district that is considering submitting a ballot question or questions to its voters to solicit proposals from its charter schools about their capital construction needs;
Requires the district's board to notify the charter schools regarding whether it will include the charter school's capital construction needs in the district's ballot questions; and
Encourages a district to solicit proposals from institute charter schools located within the district's boundaries about their capital construction needs and include funding for the capital construction needs in the district's relevant ballot question. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Prime Sponsors
Scott Bright
Senator
Cathy Kipp
Representative
Andrew Boesenecker
Representative
Lindsay Gilchrist
Committees
Senate
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Status
Under Consideration
Introduced
Under Consideration
Related Documents & Information
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/20/2026 | Introduced |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/25/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Refer Senate Bill 26-145, as amended, 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 |
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/13/2026 | L.008 | SEN Education | Passed [*] | |
| 04/13/2026 | L.007 | SEN Education | Passed [*] | |
| 04/13/2026 | L.005 | SEN Education | Passed [*] | |
| 04/13/2026 | L.004 | SEN Education | Passed [*] | |
| 04/13/2026 | L.003 | SEN Education | Passed [*] | |
| 04/13/2026 | L.002 | SEN Education | Passed [*] | |
| 04/13/2026 | L.001 | SEN Education | Passed [*] |
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 04/13/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 03/20/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education |
Prime Sponsor
Rep. A. Boesenecker | Rep. L. Gilchrist
Sponsor
(None) Co-Sponsor
(None)
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