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HB26-1029 • 2026

Student Representation Commission on Higher Education

The act expands the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) from 11 to 13 members by adding 2 nonvoting student members who are enrolled at a state-supported institution of higher educati

Education Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. M. Carter, Rep. E. Hamrick, Sen. J. Marchman, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. C. Espenoza, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. L. García, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. M. Lukens, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. M. Soper, Rep. K. Stewart, Rep. B. Titone, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. J. Danielson, Sen. J. Gonzales, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. K. Wallace
Last action
2026-06-02
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB26-1029: Adding Student Members to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education

This law adds two nonvoting student members to the state's higher education commission and removes a separate advisory seat for students.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the total number of commission members from 11 to 13.
  • Adds one nonvoting member who attends a graduate research university or four-year college.
  • Adds one nonvoting member who attends a community, district, or technical college.
  • Requires the governor to appoint these student members by July 1, 2027.
  • Sets a two-year term for each new student member.
  • Reduces the advisory committee size from 13 to 12 members.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Colorado Commission on Higher Education
  • Students enrolled in state-supported colleges and universities
  • The governor of Colorado

Terms To Know

Nonvoting member
A person who sits on a group but does not have the power to cast votes.
State-supported institution of higher education
Colleges or universities that receive funding from the state government.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not specify an effective date.
  • The source material does not explain how student members are selected before the governor appoints them.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

H.001

Committee of the Whole

Lost

Plain English: This amendment would require the two student members on the commission to belong to different political parties.

  • Student members must not share the same political party as another current or newly appointed student member when they are chosen.
  • The official text does not explain what happens if no eligible students from a second party can be found.
  • This amendment was voted down and did not pass, so these changes were not made to the bill.
L.006

HOU Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment clarifies that the two new student members added to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education will not have voting rights.

  • It adds a rule stating that any student member appointed under this bill is a nonvoting member of the commission.
L.004

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment would require student members on the commission to belong to different political parties than other current or newly appointed student members, and it would remove a phrase that previously excluded students from certain counts.

  • Student members must not share the same political party as another student member who is currently serving or has just been appointed.
  • The text removing 'excluding the student members' means rules applying to the commission will now include these new student seats.
  • This amendment was voted down and did not pass, so it does not change the law.
  • The official text is brief and does not explain what happens if no students from different parties are available to be appointed.
L.005

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment changes when parts of the bill become law by adding a waiting period for voters to challenge it and making one section depend on another bill failing.

  • The entire act will not take effect until August 12, 2026, unless citizens file a petition asking for a public vote before then.
  • If a referendum petition is filed, the law only becomes effective if voters approve it in the November 2026 election.
  • Section 2 of this act will only become law if Senate Bill 26-078 does not pass.
  • The amendment text describes legal procedures for timing and conditions but does not explain the specific details or content of Section 2.
  • The exact date in August depends on when the state legislature officially ends its session, which is estimated as May 13, 2026.
L.007

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment adds a rule requiring the new student members on the higher education commission to be U.S. residents who qualify as in-state students.

  • It updates the list of rules that apply to the two new nonvoting student seats.
  • The amendment text does not explain what happens if a current member is already on the commission but does not meet these new requirements.
  • Because this amendment was voted down and lost, it did not become part of the final bill law.
L.008

Third Reading

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the bill so that student members are included when counting or referring to the full commission, instead of being excluded.

  • Removes words from page 2, line 20 that said 'EXCLUDING THE STUDENT MEMBERS'.
  • Updates the text to refer simply to the 'commission' without leaving out students.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-02 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-06-01 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-06-01 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-06-01 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-05-12 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  9. 2026-05-08 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

  10. 2026-05-07 House

    House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

  11. 2026-05-06 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  12. 2026-05-06 House

    House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  13. 2026-02-12 House

    House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  14. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

Official Summary Text

The act expands the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) from 11 to 13 members by adding 2 nonvoting student members who are enrolled at a state-supported institution of higher education (student members). Specifically, the act adds:
One student member from a graduate research university or a 4-year institution of higher education; and
One student member from a community college, local district college, or area technical college.
The governor shall make initial appointments of student members on or before July 1, 2027. Student members serve on the commission for a term of 2 years.
The act shrinks the advisory committee to the commission from 13 to 12 members by removing the advisory committee member designated to represent the students of the state.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)