So far, five ballot measures have been certified to appear on the 2024 ballot in Colorado. The most recent measure to be certified for the ballot is Initiative 77.
The initiative would require that an economic impact statement be included on the ballot for each measure before the question itself is presented to voters. The economic impact summary would need to include information about:
- the effect the measure would have on state employment;
- the effect of the measure on the state’s gross domestic product (GDP); and
- the effect on state and local government revenue, expenditures, taxes, and fiscal liabilities.
On April 22, 2024, the Colorado secretary of state’s office announced that 199,126 signatures were submitted for the initiative and a random sample projected that 149,449 signatures were valid. To qualify for the ballot, 124,238 valid signatures were required.
The initiative would provide that, within five days after an initiative has been given a statement of sufficiency, any interested party could submit an economic impact statement concerning the measure to the state chief economist of the general assembly. Analysis in economic impact statements submitted to the chief economist would need to have been performed by an economist and reviewed by an expert in the field and have validated methodological soundness.
The state chief economist would be required to review submitted economic impact statements for compliance and issue an economic impact summary within five days of submission. If multiple economic impact statements are submitted, the economist would need to include all qualifying economic impact statements in the summary.
Within three days of the chief economist’s determination or summary, any party could file a challenge to the determination or summary. Challenges would need to be finalized within ten days after a court begins summary proceedings. Decisions could be reviewed by the state supreme court upon application.
When all challenges in the district court are finalized, the director of the legislative council will be required to certify the ballot content of the economic impact summary to the secretary of state.
The initiative is sponsored by Protect Colorado, an organization that promotes oil and natural gas development in Colorado. Campaign finance reports covering information through Dec. 7, 2023, show that the committee raised $3.4 million, with contributions from oil and gas companies including Chevron, Phillips 66, and Occidental Petroleum.
Initiatives:
So far, one other initiative has been certified for the 2024 ballot. That initiative would limit property tax revenue from increasing beyond 4% growth from the total statewide property tax revenue collected in the previous year. Statewide voter approval would be required to retain property tax revenue above the cap.
Signatures for an initiative that would create a constitutional right to abortion were submitted in Colorado last week, and, if enough signatures are validated, the initiative will be certified for the ballot.
Eleven other initiatives have been cleared for signature gathering. Each initiative faces its own signature deadline. The next signature deadlines for the proposed initiatives are July 5, July 25, and Aug. 5. The latest date for the 2024 ballot is Aug. 5.
From 2000 through 2022, 70 initiatives have been on the ballot in Colorado during even-numbered years. Of the 70 initiatives, 29 were approved (41.43%) and 41 were defeated (58.57%). An average of about 6 measures were on the ballot during even-numbered years.
Legislative referrals:
Also on the ballot are three constitutional amendments from the state legislature. The amendments would:
- expand the property tax exemption for veterans with a disability to veterans with individual unemployability status;
- create an independent judicial discipline adjudicative board and create rules for the judicial discipline process; and
- remove the right to bail in cases of first-degree murder when proof is evident and presumption is great.
The state House passed a measure on April 20 that, if passed by the Senate, would appear on the 2024 ballot asking voters to enact a retail sales tax on firearms dealers, manufacturers, and ammunition vendors. Revenue generated from the tax would be appropriated to the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Cash Fund and would be used to fund crime victim services programs, education programs, and mental and behavioral health programs for children and veterans.
The Colorado State Legislature can refer constitutional amendments or state statutes to the ballot during the 2024 legislative session, which was set to adjourn on May 8.
During even-numbered years from 2000 to 2022, an average of between nine and 10 measures (including all types) appeared on the statewide ballot in Colorado. From 2000 to 2022, 116 measures appeared on the ballot, of which, 56 (48%) were approved and 60 (52%) were defeated.
Additional reading: