End of legislative session brings budget clarity, success for two CU-led bills
Colorado’s recently ended legislative session brought certainty for the state’s 2026-27 budget and its impact on CU and other higher education institutions across the state.
The Jan. 14-May 13 session also saw the successful passage of two key CU-led bills: One will expand concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students, while the other updates higher education statutes to achieve greater efficiencies.
In a difficult budget year, state leaders approved continued investment in higher education, providing funding that continues to cover core costs for public institutions. Lawmakers restored the mid-year operating cut of $9.5 million for higher education in the 2025-26 fiscal year; CU receives $2.6 million of that. The state limited tuition increases to 3.5%, which informed CU’s rates approved by the Board of Regents.
The budget also includes $135.4 million in funding statewide for capital construction and IT projects at higher education institutions. Of this amount, $19.1 million will go toward eight controlled maintenance projects across all CU campuses and the Auraria Campus.
Throughout the session, CU’s State Government Relations team and the Budget and Finance Office engaged with state leaders and lobbied on several budget and legislative issues of impact to CU. CU led two key bills, passed by the legislature and awaiting the governor’s signature.
House Bill 26-1078 expands concurrent enrollment by allowing four-year institutions to offer courses directly on high school campuses, rather than limiting them to college campuses. By removing this barrier, it significantly increases access and equity for students, especially those who may not be able to travel, ensuring more students statewide can participate in and benefit from concurrent enrollment opportunities.
The existing location-based barrier had limited student access, especially in rural and underserved areas where four-year institutions may be the only viable provider.
Ahead of the 2026 session, the State Relations team worked extensively with key stakeholders – including the Colorado Community College System, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education – to build support for the legislation. As the bill advanced, the team continued stakeholder engagement, secured amendments in both chambers and worked to fund the fiscal note for CDE through CU’s own budget to help ensure passage during a difficult budget year. The legislation ultimately passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers and no opposition.
Senate Bill 26-078 achieves greater efficiencies for CU and other institutions of higher education. This common-sense update to higher education statutes will modernize outdated thresholds and improve transparency. It empowers institutions to operate more efficiently while maintaining appropriate legislative oversight and protecting students from new costs. The legislation strengthens data collaboration and access to better support student success in enrollment, retention and graduation.
The bill makes a series of updates to statutes governing state institutions of higher education, including provisions related to fiscal impact information for legislative measures, definitions for electric and plumbing work, data policies and coordination, capital construction review processes, and bond requirements and procedures for CU.
Throughout the legislative process, the bill was amended in both chambers in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Auraria Higher Education Center and the Governor’s Office to address stakeholder feedback and operational concerns. Government Relations worked closely with partners to negotiate the final language and maintain support for the bill’s key provisions.
For a full list of bills and information on those tracked by CU this past session, click here.