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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB26-1356 • 2026

Repeal Local Accountability System

Joint Budget Committee. The bill repeals the local accountability system, which includes a grant program. The local accountability system supplements the state accountability system. (Note: This summa

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Rep. K. Brown, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Rep. E. Sirota, Sen. J. Bridges
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 details on the exact impact on rural schools or what will replace the local accountability system after its removal.

Repeal Local Accountability System

This bill removes the local accountability system, which includes a grant program that supports schools in Colorado.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the local accountability system from state laws.
  • Eliminates a grant program within the local accountability system.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School districts in Colorado that participate in the local accountability system grant program.
  • Task force members involved with education oversight in Colorado.

Terms To Know

Local Accountability System
A set of rules and programs used by some school districts to measure their performance, which includes a grant program for support.
Grant Program
Financial assistance provided by the government or other organizations to help schools improve or maintain certain standards.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will replace the local accountability system after it is removed.
  • It's unclear how school districts currently using the grant program will be supported in the future.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Senate

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

  2. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

  3. 2026-04-11 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  4. 2026-04-09 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  5. 2026-04-08 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-04-06 House

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

  7. 2026-04-02 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Joint Budget Committee.
The bill repeals the local accountability system, which includes a grant program. The local accountability system supplements the state accountability system.
(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. 26-0885.02 Veronica Parish x2606 HOUSE BILL 26-1356
House Committees Senate Committees
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF THE LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.101
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. The bill repeals the local accountability
system, which includes a grant program. The local accountability system
supplements the state accountability system.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 11, 2026
HOUSE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 8, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Brown and Taggart, Sirota,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Amabile and Kirkmeyer, Bridges
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.
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal part 7 of1
article 11 of title 22.2
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 2-2-2102, amend (2)3
introductory portion and (2)(d)(II); and repeal (2)(d)(III) as follows:4
2-2-2102. Accountability, accreditation, student performance,5
and resource inequity task force - appointments - meetings.6
(2) The task force members must be appointed on or before July7
1, 2023. Following the appointment of the task force members pursuant8
to this subsection (2), the speaker of the house of representatives shall9
appoint the chairperson, and the president of the senate shall appoint the10
vice-chairperson. The task force consists of twenty-six TWENTY-FIVE11
members, and task force members are appointed as follows:12
(d) The senate minority leader shall appoint the following13
members:14
(II) One teacher who teaches in a rural school district; AND15
(III) One superintendent who represents a rural school district that16
participates in the local accountability system grant program established17
in section 22-11-703 and who has experience as a school district18
superintendent in Colorado public schools; and19
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 2-2-2103, repeal20
(1)(b)(II) and (1)(b)(III) as follows:21
2-2-2103. Accountability, accreditation, student performance,22
and resource inequity task force - duties - report.23
(1) (b) To support the considerations of the task force set forth in24
subsection (1)(a) of this section, the task force may review:25
(II) The local accountability systems described in part 7 of article26
11 of title 22;27
1356-2-
(III) The results of the local accountability system grant program1
created in section 22-11-703;2
SECTION 4. Effective date. This act takes effect July 1, 2026.3
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,4
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate5
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for6
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state7
institutions.8
1356-3-