HB26-1137 • 2026

Requirements for Campaign Consultants

The bill imposes certain requirements on persons engaged in campaign consulting services, which are professional services to promote the election, retention, recall, or defeat of a candidate. Campaign

Elections Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Rep. L. García, Rep. B. Titone, Sen. L. Cutter, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. S. Bottoms, Rep. M. Bradfield, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. R. Keltie, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. Mabrey, Rep. B. Marshall, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. M. Soper, Rep. T. Story, Rep. R. Taggart, Rep. E. Velasco, Rep. S. Woodrow
Last action: 2026-03-10
Official status: House Third Reading Lost - No Amendments
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary states it applies 'as introduced' but the official text provided is an engrossed version with amendments. The effective date depends on whether a referendum petition is filed within ninety days of adjournment.

Rules for Campaign Consultants in Colorado

This bill sets rules that stop campaign consultants from working against their clients or sharing secret information without getting written permission first.

What This Bill Does

Requires a consultant to get full disclosure and written consent before representing an interest that goes against their current client.
Bans consultants from supporting opposing candidates in the same election unless they have full disclosure and written consent from both candidates.
Prohibits sharing confidential information gained during work with one candidate if it helps an opponent win in the same election.
Allows a person harmed by these rule breaks to file a civil lawsuit in district court.
Lets the person filing the suit ask for money damages, legal fees, or orders to stop the bad behavior.

Who It Names or Affects

Individuals and firms that get paid to provide professional campaign consulting services.
Candidates running for state office in Colorado who hire these consultants.
People who believe a consultant broke these rules and want to sue them.

Terms To Know

Campaign Consultant: A person paid to help plan, manage, or run an election campaign for a candidate. This does not include vendors selling goods, lawyers giving only legal advice, accountants doing taxes, pollsters taking surveys, or treasurers.
Confidential Information: Information that is defined as confidential in an agreement between the client and the consultant.
Adverse Interest: An interest that goes against what is best for your current client.

Limits and Unknowns

The rules only apply to work done on or after January 1, 2027.
This law does not cover vendors selling goods like software, lawyers giving legal advice, accountants doing taxes, pollsters just taking surveys, or campaign treasurers.

Amendments

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

L.001

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment expands the definition of campaign consultants to include vendors who sell goods for fundraising and clarifies that simply selling software does not count as providing fundraising services.

Adds 'vendors whose goods relate to fundraising activities' to the list of businesses covered by new rules.
Clarifies that offering only vendor goods, such as fundraising software, is not considered a regulated fundraising activity.

L.002

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment changes how the bill is enforced by removing private lawsuits and instead allowing individuals to report violations to state officials who may then take action.

Removes the ability for regular people to file their own court cases against campaign consultants who break the rules.
Allows anyone who thinks a rule was broken to file a complaint with the Secretary of State instead.
Gives the Attorney General the power to step in and enforce the law if they receive a referral from the Secretary of State.

The amendment text does not explain what specific penalties or punishments would happen after an enforcement action is taken.
It is unclear how quickly the Attorney General must act once a complaint is referred to them.

L.003

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment adds a legal protection for campaign consultants who get written permission from clients before working with opposing candidates.

It creates an 'affirmative defense' that stops a consultant from being punished if they followed specific rules about conflicts of interest.

This amendment was voted down and did not become part of the final bill.
The text does not explain what happens if a client refuses to give written consent or how this defense is proven in court.

Bill History

2026-03-10 House
House Third Reading Lost - No Amendments
2026-03-09 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor
2026-02-26 House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-02-23 House
House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-02-04 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Official Summary Text

The bill imposes certain requirements on persons engaged in campaign consulting services, which are professional services to promote the election, retention, recall, or defeat of a candidate. Campaign consultants and consulting firms are not allowed to knowingly:
Represent an interest adverse to their client without first obtaining the written consent of the client after full disclosure;
Provide campaign consulting services in support of opposing candidates in the same election without first obtaining the written consent of both candidates after full disclosure; or
Disclose, to provide material benefit to an opposing candidate in the same election, confidential information that relates to a candidate on behalf of whom the consultant or consulting firm provided campaign consulting services and that was gained in the course of the campaign consulting for that candidate.

An aggrieved person may file a civil suit alleging a violation of these requirements.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0338.02 Rebecca Bayetti x4348 HOUSE BILL 26-1137
House Committees Senate Committees
State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS ENGAGED IN CAMPAIGN101
CONSULTING.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill imposes certain requirements on persons engaged in
campaign consulting services, which are professional services to promote
the election, retention, recall, or defeat of a candidate. Campaign
consultants and consulting firms are not allowed to knowingly:
! Represent an interest adverse to their client without first
obtaining the written consent of the client after full
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 9, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Titone and Garcia, Bacon, Bottoms, Bradfield, Froelich, Hamrick, Joseph, Keltie, Lindsay,
Mabrey, Marshall, Nguyen, Soper, Story, Taggart, Velasco, Woodrow
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Cutter,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
disclosure;
! Provide campaign consulting services in support of
opposing candidates in the same election without first
obtaining the written consent of both candidates after full
disclosure; or
! Disclose, to provide material benefit to an opposing
candidate in the same election, confidential information
that relates to a candidate on behalf of whom the consultant
or consulting firm provided campaign consulting services
and that was gained in the course of the campaign
consulting for that candidate.
An aggrieved person may file a civil suit alleging a violation of
these requirements.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration.2
(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:3
(a) Campaign consultants provide an important service to4
individuals who wish to run for office. They support campaign logistics,5
messaging, planning, and implementation of the campaign plan. These6
consultants work for the best interest of the candidate to assist the7
candidate in winning at each milestone of the campaign. Much like8
attorneys and other professionals, campaign consultants and consulting9
firms should not take on competing clients without express consent and10
the necessary documentation to ensure that they can adequately provide11
services to all of their clients.12
(b) Even under the most careful of situations for partitioning13
information, a campaign consultant or consulting firm that represents14
opposing candidates is forced to split resources, thereby hindering the15
progress of the candidates they represent; and16
(c) Campaign consultants have and may continue to surprise their17
candidate clients by allowing the candidate's opponents to hire their18
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services, therefore being paid to split available resources for opposing1
clients, which is disruptive to the democratic process.2
(2) Now, therefore, the general assembly declares that it is in the3
public interest to implement certain ethical requirements for the4
profession of campaign consulting to ensure that democratic elections are5
conducted fairly, without favor or detriment to any particular candidate6
based on who the candidate hires to provide professional campaign7
consulting services.8
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 6 to article9
6 of title 24 as follows:10
PART 611
REQUIREMENTS FOR CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS12
24-6-601. Definitions.13
AS USED IN THIS PART 6, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE14
REQUIRES:15
(1) (a) "CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT" OR "CONSULTANT" MEANS AN16
INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVES OR IS PROMISED MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN17
CONSULTING SERVICES.18
(b) "CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT" DOES NOT INCLUDE:19
(I) A VENDOR WHO PROVIDES TANGIBLE GOODS IN THE ORDINARY20
COURSE OF THE VENDOR'S BUSINESS, INCLUDING VENDORS WHOSE GOODS21
RELATE TO FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES;22
(II) AN ATTORNEY WHO PROVIDES ONLY LEGAL SERVICES;23
(III) A N ACCOUNTANT WHO PROVIDES ONLY ACCOUNTING24
SERVICES;25
(IV) A POLLSTER WHO PROVIDES ONLY POLLING SERVICES; OR26
(V) A TREASURER WHO PROVIDES ONLY THOSE SERVICES THAT ARE27
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REQUIRED OF TREASURERS.1
(2) "CAMPAIGN CONSULTING" MEANS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO2
PROMOTE THE ELECTION , RETENTION , RECALL , OR DEFEAT OF A3
CANDIDATE, INCLUDING:4
(a) DEVELOPING CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES;5
(b) PARTICIPATING IN CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT;6
(c) COORDINATING CAMPAIGN STAFF;7
(d) O RGANIZING MEETINGS AND EVENTS TO PUBLICIZE A8
CANDIDATE OR CAUSE;9
(e) CONDUCTING PUBLIC OPINION POLLING;10
(f) PROVIDING RESEARCH ON ISSUES OR OPPOSITION BACKGROUND;11
(g) COORDINATING OR PURCHASING PRINT OR BROADCAST MEDIA;12
(h) FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES BEYOND SOLELY OFFERING VENDOR13
GOODS SUCH AS SOFTWARE RELATED TO FUNDRAISING; AND14
(i) CONDUCTING OTHER POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.15
(3) "CANDIDATE" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION 2 (2)16
OF ARTICLE XXVIII OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 1-45-10317
(2); EXCEPT THAT "CANDIDATE" ALSO INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL WHO18
SEEKS NOMINATION OR ELECTION TO ANY FEDERAL PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE19
STATE.20
(4) "CLIENT" MEANS THE PERSON THAT ENGAGES , EMPLOYS, OR21
RETAINS THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF ONE OR MORE CONSULTANTS TO22
UNDERTAKE CAMPAIGN CONSULTING.23
(5) "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" MEANS INFORMATION DEFINED24
AS CONFIDENTIAL IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN A CLIENT AND A25
CONSULTANT OR CONSULTING FIRM.26
(6) "CONSULTING FIRM" MEANS A PERSON THAT EMPLOYS ONE OR27
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MORE CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE CAMPAIGN CONSULTING SERVICES ON1
BEHALF OF A CLIENT.2
24-6-602. Prohibited practices - civil cause of action.3
(1) A CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT OR CONSULTING FIRM SHALL NOT4
KNOWINGLY:5
(a) REPRESENT AN INTEREST ADVERSE TO THE CONSULTANT'S OR6
THE CONSULTING FIRM'S CLIENT WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE WRITTEN7
CONSENT OF THE CLIENT AFTER FULL DISCLOSURE BY THE CONSULTANT OR8
CONSULTING FIRM OF THE ADVERSE INTEREST;9
(b) P ROVIDE CAMPAIGN CONSULTING SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF10
OPPOSING CANDIDATES IN THE SAME ELECTION WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING11
THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF BOTH CANDIDATES AFTER FULL DISCLOSURE BY12
THE CONSULTANT OR CONSULTING FIRM; OR13
(c) D ISCLOSE, TO PROVIDE MATERIAL BENEFIT TO AN OPPOSING14
CANDIDATE IN THE SAME ELECTION , CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT15
RELATES TO A CANDIDATE ON BEHALF OF WHOM THE CONSULTANT OR16
CONSULTING FIRM PROVIDED CAMPAIGN CONSULTING SERVICES AND THAT17
WAS GAINED IN THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN CONSULTING FOR THAT18
CANDIDATE.19
(2) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION ALLEGING20
A VIOLATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION.21
THE AGGRIEVED PERSON MAY FILE SUIT IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR THE22
JUDICIAL DISTRICT WHERE THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OCCURRED . THE23
AGGRIEVED PERSON MAY:24
(a) SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF;25
(b) B RING AN ACTION FOR COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE26
DAMAGES;27
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(c) SEEK REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES, FILING FEES, AND COSTS;1
AND2
(d) SEEK ANY OTHER JUST AND APPROPRIATE RELIEF NECESSARY3
TO ENFORCE THIS SECTION AND REMEDY THE HARM CAUSED BY THE4
ALLEGED VIOLATION.5
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date -6
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following7
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the8
general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,9
2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 110
(3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section,11
or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part12
will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election13
to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the14
date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.15
(2) This act applies to campaign consulting and campaign16
consultants on or after January 1, 2027.17
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