HB26-1354 • 2026

Repeal Science Teacher Professional Development Program

Joint Budget Committee. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the general assembly appropriated $3 million from the state education fund for a professional development program for science teachers (progr

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. J. Bridges, Rep. K. Brown, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on what happens to remaining funds after July 1, 2027.

Repealing Science Teacher Professional Development Program

This bill reduces funding for a science teacher professional development program from $3 million to $1.5 million and plans to end the program by July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Reduces the appropriation for a science teacher professional development program from $3 million to $1.5 million.
Repeals the program on July 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

Science teachers who were supposed to benefit from professional development programs funded by the state.
The Department of Education which was responsible for managing and distributing funds for these programs.

Terms To Know

Professional Development Program: A program designed to help science teachers improve their skills through training and education.
State Fiscal Year: The financial year used by the state government, typically running from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the next.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how the reduction in funding will affect the quality and reach of professional development opportunities for science teachers.
The bill does not specify what happens to any remaining funds after July 1, 2027.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-04-13 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations
2026-04-11 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-04-09 House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-04-08 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
2026-04-06 House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-04-02 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Joint Budget Committee.
For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the general assembly appropriated $3 million from the state education fund for a professional development program for science teachers (program). The money is available for expenditure through the 2026-27 state fiscal year.
The bill reduces the appropriation to $1.5 million and repeals the program on July 1, 2027.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0883.01 Conrad Imel x2313 HOUSE BILL 26-1354
House Committees Senate Committees
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING REPEALING A SCIE NCE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL101
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM , AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,102
REDUCING AN APPROPRIATION.103
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/.)
Joint Budget Committee. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the
general assembly appropriated $3 million from the state education fund
for a professional development program for science teachers (program).
The money is available for expenditure through the 2026-27 state fiscal
year.
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 11, 2026
HOUSE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 8, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Sirota and Taggart, Brown,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Amabile and Bridges, Kirkmeyer
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.
The bill reduces the appropriation to $1.5 million and repeals the
program on July 1, 2027.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-2-146.8, amend2
(4)(b); and add (5) as follows:3
22-2-146.8. Department of education - improving science4
outcomes - teacher professional development - report - appropriation5
- legislative declaration - definitions - repeal.6
(4) (b) For the 2024-25 budget year, the general assembly shall7
appropriate three million dollars from the state education fund to the8
department. Any money appropriated pursuant to this section FOR THE9
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION FOR THE 2024-25 BUDGET YEAR that is not10
expended prior to July 1, 2025, remains available for expenditure for the11
same purpose in the 2026-27 budget year without further appropriation.12
At the end of the 2026-27 budget year, the money that is unexpended or13
unencumbered reverts to the state education fund.14
(5) THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027.15
SECTION 2. In Session Laws of Colorado 2024, amend section16
3 of chapter 239 (HB 24-1446) as follows:17
Section 3. Appropriation. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year,18
$3,000,000 $1,500,000 is appropriated to the department of education for19
use by student learning. This appropriation is from the state education20
fund created in section 17 (4)(a) of article IX of the state constitution. To21
implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for22
professional development for science teachers.23
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,24
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate25
1354-2-
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for1
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state2
institutions.3
1354-3-