Colorado HB26-1176: Modifies Fourth-Year Innovation Pilot Program

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

Colorado HB26-1176 modifies the fourth-year innovation pilot program by discontinuing appropriations for the 2025-26 school year and adjusting commencement deadlines for eligible graduates. The bill also repeals the requirement for a final evaluation report.

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What changed

Colorado HB26-1176 significantly alters the fourth-year innovation pilot program. Key changes include the discontinuation of state funding appropriations for eligible graduates commencing in the 2025-26 school year and a revised commencement deadline of December 31, 2026, for those graduates. Additionally, the bill repeals the requirement for the Department of Higher Education to submit a final evaluation report on the program's impacts and outcomes.

Educational institutions and students participating in or affected by the pilot program should note the cessation of new funding for the 2025-26 cohort and the adjusted timeline for commencing postsecondary programs. The repeal of the evaluation report requirement suggests a potential winding down or reevaluation of the program's future. No specific compliance actions are mandated for institutions, but awareness of these changes is crucial for program administration and student advisement.

What to do next

Advise students on the December 31, 2026, commencement deadline for the 2025-26 graduating cohort.
Update internal program guidance to reflect the discontinuation of appropriations for the 2025-26 school year.
Note the repeal of the final evaluation report requirement.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1176

Modify Fourth-Year Innovation Pilot Program

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) Higher Education |
Concerning modifications to the fourth-year innovation pilot program, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation.

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

Joint Budget Committee. Under current law, the fourth-year innovation pilot program (program) provides state funding to students with low incomes who graduate early from a high school participating in the program.

Under the program, each year the general assembly appropriates an amount to the department of education (department) for the department to distribute to local education providers from which an eligible graduate graduated early.

The bill:

Discontinues the amount appropriated by the general assembly to the department for distribution to eligible local education providers for eligible graduates who graduate during the 2025-26 school year; and
Requires the department to prorate the amount distributed from the appropriation, if any. Under the program, an eligible graduate may receive funding for tuition, fees, books, transportation, and other costs of attendance associated with their postsecondary program if, among other requirements, the eligible graduate commences their postsecondary program within 18 months after graduating early.

The bill requires an eligible graduate who graduates early in the 2025-26 school year to commence their postsecondary program by December 31, 2026.

Under current law, the department of higher education is required to submit a final evaluation report, including the impacts and outcomes of the program on the student cohorts that participated in the program and recommended next steps for the program. The bill repeals this requirement.

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

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Emily Sirota
Representative

Rick Taggart
Senator

Judy Amabile
Senator

Jeff Bridges

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 |
| 02/11/2026 | 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 26-1176 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 26-1176 to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. | 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. E. Sirota | Rep. R. Taggart

Sen. J. Amabile | Sen. J. Bridges

Sponsor

Rep. K. Brown

Sen. B. Kirkmeyer

Co-Sponsor

Rep. M. Duran | Rep. J. McCluskie | Rep. E. Velasco