Review and Comment Hearing for Initiative #189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196

Tuesday, January 6, 2026·1h 19m·▶ Watch / Listen

Legislative staff walked the proponents of eight versions of a proposed graduated state income tax through the required review-and-comment hearing, with much of the session turning on whether abandoning Colorado's flat-rate mandate would create an 'added tax' barred by TABOR.

Key Actions

·Proposed graduated state income tax initiatives (#189-196)Action

Notable Quotes

“Now, the language added tax was not something we created. It's in tabor. It it was passed by the voters back in the day. Doug Bruce wrote it. Added tax must mean something other than the base rate that would be applicable to a graduated tax if you had one. Otherwise it's just repeating the same thing.”
Ed Ramey (counsel for proponents) · witness — The core interpretive dispute: whether a graduated base rate counts as an 'added tax' under TABOR's voter-approved language, which determines whether the measures can operate as intended.

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TranscriptPreview

Okay. For the record, Elizabeth Ramey, Legislative Council staff. And I am joined by Pierce Lively with the Office of Legislative Legal Services. And I am Ed Ramey, no relation to the other people in the room today. And I am counsel for the proponents. I am Chris Degree Kennedy with the Bell Policy Center. Tiana Newell with New Era Colorado. And those two individuals are designated representatives of the proponents, as you probably guessed. Yes. Okay. So to. To Chris Diggory Kennedy and Keon Newell from Legislative Council staff and Office of Legislative legal services, dated January 2, 2026, subject proposed initiative measures 2025, 26. For the record. I'm sorry, muted first, but that means you're live, so that's good services. And I am Ed Ramey. No relation. Why can I not do it? Okay. All right. Great for everyone to hear. Okay. Proposed initiative measures 1891-901911-92193, 194, 195 and 196 concerning a graduated state income tax. Section 1 40, 105, subsection 1, Colorado Revised Statutes, requires the directors of the Legislative Council Staff and And the Office of Legislative Legal Services to review and comment on initiative petitions for proposed laws and amendments to the Colorado Constitution. We…

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