Colorado voters to decide on tax and conservation measures

Colorado tax reform Initiative 195 Proposition 137 income tax conservation funding

Colorado voters will face several significant ballot measures in November 2026 regarding state taxation and conservation funding.

Initiative 195, led by the Protect Colorado’s Future coalition, seeks to replace the state’s current 4.4% flat income tax rate with a graduated system. Under this proposal, taxes would decrease for lower earners while increasing for high-income households. Specifically, the rate would rise to 7.4% for those earning over $500,000 and up to 8.4% for those earning $1 million or more. The initiative aims to generate approximately $2 billion in annual revenue to fund healthcare, education, and early childhood programs.

Separately, Proposition 137 proposes redirecting an estimated $175 million in annual revenue from the state’s sporting goods and outdoor gear sales tax. Instead of being refunded to taxpayers under TABOR, these funds would support conservation, wildfire mitigation, and water protection. The measure would distribute nearly half of the revenue to Great Outdoors Colorado and the remainder to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado State Forest Service.

Entities

Colorado · Colorado Department of Natural Resources · Colorado State Forest Service · Great Outdoors Colorado · Protect Colorado’s Future

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Initiative 195 would replace Colorado’s 4.4% flat income tax rate with a graduated rate. www.vaildaily.com · www.aspentimes.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Under Initiative 195, the tax rate would increase to 7.4% for households earning over $500,000 and up to 8.4% for those earning $1 million or more. www.vaildaily.com · www.aspentimes.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Initiative 195 would require the new revenue to be spent on healthcare, education, and early childhood programs. www.vaildaily.com · www.aspentimes.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Proposition 137 would redirect an estimated $175 million in annual revenue from sporting goods and outdoor gear taxes toward conservation and wildfire mitigation. www.craigdailypress.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The proposed tax changes are expected to generate approximately $2 billion in additional annual revenue. www.vaildaily.com · www.aspentimes.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The campaign for Initiative 195 submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. www.vaildaily.com · www.aspentimes.com

Sources

Colorado voters to decide fate of dueling income tax questions in November [www.vaildaily.com]

10 days ago

In November, Colorado voters will weigh in on funding increase for conservation, water and wildfire mitigation [www.craigdailypress.com]

11 days ago

Colorado voters to decide fate of dueling income tax questions in November [www.aspentimes.com]

10 days ago