Colorado voters have a long ballot this year, with 14 statewide ballot measures covering issues ranging from taxes and government spending to hunting, immigration and criminal penalties. Six of the measures require 55% of the vote to pass as they are constitutional amendments.
Amendment 81
Amendment 81 would amend the state constitution and would require law enforcement to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security when a person is charged with a crime of violence or has a prior felony conviction and the person’s immigration status cannot be determined
Supporters say the measure would improve public safety and ensure greater cooperation between local and federal authorities.
Opponents say it would expand local law enforcement’s role in federal immigration enforcement and could affect trust between immigrant communities and police.
Amendment 82
Constitutional Right to Purchase Natural Gas
Amendment 82 would amend the state constitution to establish a right for consumers to purchase natural gas for cooking or heating in their homes and businesses. It would also establish a right for natural gas producers and utilities to sell gas to homes and businesses.
Supporters want to stop local towns, cities, or state agencies from banning or restricting natural gas hookups in new construction.
Opponents say that because it changes the actual state constitution and uses broad language, it could make it hard for communities to enforce safety rules, pollution limits, or building codes.
Amendment 83
Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish
Amendment 83 would amend the state constitution to establish the right to hunt, fish, and harvest fish and wildlife by traditional methods, including all species of fish and wildlife managed by the state except non-game species, endangered species, or any species that is illegal to hunt under federal law.
Supporters say the amendment protects hunting and fishing rights and preserves these activities for future generations. A yes vote makes any effort to limit certain practices much more difficult.
Opponents argue the amendment is unnecessary since it’s already legal to hunt in Colorado. They say it could limit wildlife management and conservation efforts, and they say terms like "traditional methods" or "preferred means" are vague.
Amendment 84
Require Voter Identification Number for Mail-In Ballots Initiative
Amendment 84 would require Colorado voters to write the last four digits of their Social Security number or driver’s license/ID number on the outside of their mail ballot. If the information is missing or incorrect, voters would have to fix it before their ballot could be counted.
Supporters say it will bring two-step verification to mail ballots.
Opponents, like the League of Women Voters, say voter fraud is rare, and this is an unnecessary step that could disenfranchise voters.
Amendment 85
Require Plain Language and Eighth-Grade Reading Level for Ballot Measures Initiative
Amendment 85 would require Colorado ballot questions to be written in plain language at an eighth-grade reading level or lower.
Supporters say simpler language would make ballot questions easier for voters to understand.
Opponents argue that simplifying ballot language could leave out important information about a measure’s costs and effects.
Amendment 86
Mid-Decade Congressional Redistricting
Amendment 86 would require congressional maps drawn in 2028 to be approved by both a nonpolitical commission and the state Supreme Court.
Supporters say this measure would add safeguards against political gerrymandering and require both the independent redistricting commission and the Colorado Supreme Court to approve mid-decade congressional maps.
Opponents think that the measure could make it harder to redraw congressional districts when needed and gives the commission and courts more control over the process.
Amendment 87
If passed, Amendment 87 will replace Colorado's flat income tax system with a graduated tax spent exclusively on K-12 education, healthcare, and childcare.
Supporters say higher-income Coloradans should pay a larger share in taxes, with new revenue funding education, health care, and child care.
Opponents argue higher taxes could discourage investment, business activity and economic growth.
Amendment 87 needs only a simple majority to pass, as it repeals existing constitutional language.
Proposition 132
Penalties for Fentanyl Sale and Possession Measure
Proposition 132 would increase felony penalties for fentanyl-related offenses and require treatment for some possession convictions. It would also allow certain drug possession offenses to count toward habitual offender status.
Supporters say fentanyl is driving overdose deaths, and tougher laws are needed to hold dealers accountable and protect communities.
Opponents argue that addiction is primarily a public health issue and that harsher penalties could lead to more incarceration without reducing overdose deaths.
Proposition 133
Require Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Minors Measure
Proposition 133 would make the sexual trafficking of a minor in Colorado a life-in-prison offense without the possibility of parole and expand the definition of the crime to include exchanging anything of value for sexual activity involving a minor.
Supporters say it would better protect children, deter traffickers and close legal loopholes that can make prosecution harder.
Opponents argue it is too broad and could result in harsh mandatory sentences without enough judicial flexibility.
Proposition 134
Sex Requirement for School and College Sports Initiative
Proposition 134 would require all K–12 and college sports teams in Colorado to be separated based on biological sex, unless a team is explicitly designated as co-ed. In practice, that means schools would generally have boys’ and girls’ teams determined by sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity.
Advocates say the measure protects fairness and competitive balance in girls’ sports, pointing to biological differences that can affect athletic performance.
Opponents say it discriminates against transgender athletes and could create legal and practical challenges for schools.
Proposition 135
Prohibit Surgeries for Treatment in Response to Minors' Perception of Sex or Gender Measure
Proposition 135 would prohibit certain gender-affirming surgeries for minors under age 18 and bar the use of state or federal funds, Medicaid reimbursements, and insurance coverage for those procedures.
Supporters say the measure protects kids from making irreversible medical decisions before they turn 18. They believe these procedures should wait until adulthood.
Opponents say the measure interferes with decisions made by families and doctors and unfairly targets transgender youth.
Proposition 136
Establish 4.4% Cap on Individual and Corporate Income Tax Rates Initiative
Proposition 136 would cap Colorado’s individual and corporate income tax rate at 4.4%. It’s a statutory measure, meaning it would change state law rather than the Colorado Constitution.
Supporters say the measure would cap Colorado’s income tax rate at 4.4%, creating predictable taxes and encouraging investment. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce supports it.
Opponents argue the cap could limit state revenue and make it harder to respond to changing needs.
Proposition 137
Retain Sporting Goods Sales Tax Revenue for Conservation and Wildfire Prevention Fund Initiative
Proposition 137 would redirect existing sales tax revenue from sporting goods to conservation, wildfire prevention, water and land protection, and outdoor recreation. It would not raise the sales tax rate, but could reduce TABOR refunds to taxpayers.
Supporters want to let the state keep this existing tax revenue and spend it on conservation, wildfire prevention, water and outdoor recreation.
Opponents of Proposition 137 say it would allow the government to keep money that otherwise could be refunded to taxpayers.
Proposition NN
TABOR Revenue Cap Increase for K-12 Education Measure
Proposition NN was placed on the ballot by the state legislature. It would increase the amount of tax revenue that the state is allowed to retain under TABOR to allow the state to increase spending on K-12 public education by two percent each year for the next ten years. The money would be used to increase teacher pay, improve teacher retention, lower class sizes, and increase access to career and technical courses.
Opponents of Proposition NN say it would allow the government to keep money that otherwise could be refunded to taxpayers.
Supporters of Proposition NN say it would provide much-needed money for education in the state.
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