In Colorado, signatures were submitted on Nov. 20 to the secretary of state for a ballot initiative that would increase the penalties for the manufacturing, sale, and possession of fentanyl. The filing deadline for this measure, referred to as Initiative 85, was Nov. 28.
Along with expanding those penalties, Initiative 85 would also establish mandated treatments for certain drug felony violations and revise sentencing provisions to eliminate or narrow exceptions for crimes related to fentanyl and other drug-related deaths.
The Colorado secretary of state's office has until Dec. 19 to review the signatures to determine whether at least 124,238 are valid, thereby meeting the minimum threshold to be placed on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot.
Initiative 85 was filed on May 9, 2025, as an initiated state statute, and is supported by Advance Colorado, which describes its mission as "[pushing] back on the progressive policies that have put our state on the wrong track." The organization has backed several measures in the state related to tax policy, education, and public safety. In 2024, Advance Colorado supported three ballot measures concerning school choice, parole eligibility, and funding for law enforcement. Of these, two passed, and one was defeated.
Currently, Advance Colorado is also collecting signatures for one other measure, Initiative 95, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to be notified based on whether an individual has been charged with a violent crime, if they have a prior felony conviction, or if law enforcement cannot determine that they are a citizen. The deadline for submitting signatures for Initiative 95 is Dec. 26.
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