Colorado Legislature Referred Education Measure to Ballot
Voters will decide in November 2026 whether to adjust state tax revenue limits for K-12 school funding.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Should your state loosen tax revenue caps to increase funding for public schools?
In May 2026, the Colorado General Assembly referred Proposition NN to the upcoming November 2026 ballot. The measure proposes raising revenue caps established by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to increase annual funding for K-12 education.
Why it matters
If passed, the measure could significantly alter state budget priorities and potentially reduce the annual tax refunds typically returned to Colorado households. Supporters aim to address long-term public school underfunding, while opponents argue the change threatens constitutionally protected limits on government growth.
Nonpartisan state analysts project Proposition NN would provide $500 million in new annual K-12 funding. This proposal is one of 14 ballot measures facing voters this year, with campaign committees like Yes For Colorado Kids reporting nearly $2 million in contributions as of September 1, 2026.
The players
Colorado General Assembly
The state legislative body responsible for drafting and referring ballot initiatives to voters.
Yes For Colorado Kids
A campaign committee advocating for the passage of the education funding measure.
Gary Advocacy
A philanthropic organization that contributed approximately $1 million to the pro-measure campaign.
The details
Proposition NN functions by allowing the state to retain tax revenue that would otherwise be subject to the limits set by the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. If approved by voters, this redirected revenue would be allocated to public education budgets. Because there are three tax-related measures on the 2026 ballot, any conflicts between passed measures will be settled by whichever one receives the highest number of yes votes.
Timeline
1992: Voters approved the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights as a constitutional amendment.
May 2026: The Colorado General Assembly referred Proposition NN to the ballot.
September 1, 2026: The deadline for campaign finance reporting passed.
October 2, 2026: State officials began mailing ballots to voters.
November 2026: Residents cast final votes on the measure.
The Home Front
Proposition NN marks a significant attempt to alter the fiscal framework established by the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. This effort highlights ongoing tensions between constitutional revenue limits and the rising costs of public education infrastructure.
Colorado homeowners should review their ballots carefully to understand how Proposition NN interacts with other tax-related measures. Consider how potential changes to state revenue refunds might influence your own household budget planning for the upcoming year.
The takeaway
Proposition NN is a major test of Colorado's long-standing fiscal policies regarding surplus tax revenue and public school support. Keep a close eye on the results in November to see if your local school district budget is set for a $500 million increase.
Further reading
Learn more about local school funding trends on the Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Colorado Newsline.
Live Poll
Should your state loosen tax revenue caps to increase funding for public schools?
