Colorado 2021 ballot measures

Colorado 2021 Ballot Measures
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2021 U.S. state ballot measures
2022 » « 2020
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Three statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in Colorado for the election on November 2, 2021. All three were defeated.

HIGHLIGHTS

Three initiatives were on the ballot and were defeated. Proposition 119 would have created an out-of-school education program and increase the marijuana sales tax rate to partially fund the program. Proposition 120 would have reduced property tax rates and authorize the state to retain $25 million in revenue above the state's TABOR spending cap for five years, which it would otherwise have been required to refund to taxpayers. Amendment 78 would have transferred the power to appropriate custodial funds (state revenue not generated through taxes) from the state treasurer to the state legislature.

Measures that can go on the statewide ballot in Colorado during odd years are limited to topics that concern taxes or state fiscal matters arising under TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

The last time an initiative appeared on an odd-year ballot in Colorado was 2013. The measure, which was defeated, would have changed Colorado’s flat personal income tax rate to a graduated income rate with increased rates.

On the ballot

Type	Title/number	Subject	Description	Result
CICA/SS	Amendment 78	State and local government budgets, spending and finance	Transfers the power to appropriate custodial funds (state revenue not generated through taxes) from the state treasurer to the state legislature	d
CISS	Proposition 119	Taxes, Education, and Marijuana	Creates an out-of-school education program and a board to govern it and increases the marijuana retail sales tax by 5% to partially fund the program	d
CISS	Proposition 120	Taxes	Reduces the residential and non-residential property tax rates; authorizes the state to retain and spend $25 million in revenue above the state's TABOR spending cap, which it would otherwise be required to refund to taxpayers	d

Summary of campaign contributions

See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2021

Ballot Measure	Support Contributions	Oppose Contributions	Outcome
Colorado Amendment 78, Custodial Fund Appropriations Initiative (2021)	$1,275,000.00	$0.00
Colorado Proposition 119, Creation of Out-of-School Education Program and Marijuana Sales Tax Increase Initiative (2021)	$2,937,235.00	$84,199.60
Colorado Proposition 120, Reduce Property Tax Rates and Retain $25 Million in TABOR Surplus Revenue Initiative (2021)	$1,553,850.00	$0.00

Media endorsements

The table below records the endorsements of Amendment 78, Proposition 119, and Proposition 120 that were made by Colorado media editorial boards. Visit the measure articles (linked at the top of the chart) to read what the editorial boards wrote regarding each measure.

If you are aware of a media editorial that is missing from the chart, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.

Editorial Board	Amendment 78 (custodial funds)	Prop. 119 (LEAP program)	Prop. 120 (property tax rates)
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel	d	a	d
The Denver Gazette	a	a	a
The Colorado Springs Gazette	a	a	a
The Denver Post	d	d	d
Colorado Springs Independent	d	d	d
Steamboat Pilot & Today	d	d	d
Durango Herald	d	d	d
Sentinel Colorado	d	d	d
Journal Advocate Fort Morgan Times	d	d	d
Boulder Daily Camera	d	a	d

Signature gathering costs

See also: Ballot measure signature costs, 2021

Ballot Measure	Topic	Petition Companies	Cost	Signatures	CPRS
Colorado Amendment 78, Custodial Fund Appropriations Initiative (2021)	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance	Blitz Canvassing	$1,230,369.55	124,632	$9.87
Colorado Proposition 119, Creation of Out-of-School Education Program and Marijuana Sales Tax Increase Initiative (2021)	Public education funding	Blitz Canvassing	$1,200,000.00	124,632	$9.63
Colorado Proposition 120, Reduce Property Tax Rates and Retain $25 Million in TABOR Surplus Revenue Initiative (2021)	Taxes	Victors Canvassing	$868,727.82	124,632	$6.97

Potential measures

The state legislature adjourned its legislative session June 8, 2021. The signature deadline for initiatives targeting the was August 2, 2021.

Getting measures on the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Colorado and Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado

Odd-year ballot measures

Measures that can go on the ballot during odd years are limited to topics that concern taxes or state fiscal matters arising under TABOR, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado Constitution). This requirement was added to state statute in 1994.

Measures that can go on odd-year election ballots include measures proposing new taxes, tax increases, an extension of taxes, tax policy changes resulting in a net tax revenue gain, changes to revenue or fiscal obligations, delays in voting on ballot issues, and approval for the state to retain and spend state revenues that otherwise would be refunded for exceeding an estimate included in the ballot information booklet.

Deadlines and signature requirements

In Colorado, citizens have the powers of initiative, both statute and constitutional, and veto referendum. To get an initiated state statute or initiated constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2021, proponents need to collect 124,632 valid signatures. Petitioners have six months to circulate signature petitions. The deadline for submitting signatures is set by the state constitution at three months before the election. State statutes, however, set a deadline of three months and three weeks before the election. The Colorado secretary of state sets a deadline each year of early August (three months prior to the election).

Colorado is one of 23 states that allow citizens to refer an enacted bill to the ballot as a veto referendum. As with initiatives, a veto referendum requires 124,632 valid signatures. The signature deadline was August 2, 2021, by 3 p.m. local time. A referendum petition must be filed within 90 days following the Colorado General Assembly's final adjournment of the session in which the bill was passed.

The Colorado General Assembly may also propose amendments to the people as legislatively referred constitutional amendments. A two-thirds vote of each chamber of the legislature is required to refer an amendment to the ballot.

Proposing measures and applying to petition

Initiative proponents must submit the original text of the measure to the directors of the legislative council staff and the office of legal services for review and comment. The results of the review are presented in at least one public meeting. The proponents may then make revisions in response to the recommendations given at the meeting. If the revisions go beyond the recommendations, the revised language must be resubmitted. If no further recommendations/comments are required an additional hearing is not required. Compliance with these recommendations is not mandatory.

Once the proposed measure has been reviewed, the original, amended and final drafts must be filed with the Colorado secretary of state. The secretary must then convene a "title board," which includes the secretary of state, the Colorado attorney general, and the director of the Office of Legislative Legal Services or the director's designee. At a public meeting, the board selects a title for the measure by majority vote. The title must be phrased in the form of a "yes" or "no" question. The board may also reject a measure if it fails to comply with the state's single-subject rule. If the proponents or any registered voter are unsatisfied with the title board's chosen title or single-subject ruling, a motion for a rehearing may be filed. If objections remain after the rehearing, the proponents or any registered voter may file an appeal with the Colorado Supreme Court.

Local ballot measures

See also: Colorado 2021 local ballot measures

Click here to read about local ballot measures in Colorado in 2021.

Not on the ballot

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Transportation Bond Issue	Bond issues	Issues bonds for transportation projects

Historical facts

See also: List of Colorado ballot measures and History of Initiative & Referendum in Colorado

• A total of 108 measures appeared on the statewide ballot in Colorado during the 20-year period between 1999 through 2019.
• Through all years between 1999 and 2019, odd and even, the approval rate for measures appearing on Colorado's ballot (all types) was 42%.
• From 1999 through 2019, the number of measures on statewide ballots ranged from zero to 14.
• From 2000 through 2018, an average of about nine measures appeared on the statewide ballot during even-numbered years. The approval rate for measures on the ballot in even-numbered years was about 41%.
• During odd years, an average of 1 measure appeared on the statewide ballot.
• From 1999 through 2019, about 42% (45 of 108) of the total number of measures that appeared on the statewide ballot were approved, and about 58% (63 of 108) were defeated.

See also

• 2021 ballot measures
• List of Colorado ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado
• History of Initiative & Referendum in Colorado

External links

• Colorado Secretary of State Proposed Initiative Status
• Initiatives Filed with the Colorado Legislative Counsel