DENVER (KDVR) — The 2026 midterm elections are still over a year away, but people are already preparing for them. Several ballot Initiatives have been filed in hopes of bringing them to voters next year.
Some big business groups in the state say it’s high time for Colorado to do something about its raggedy roads. They are looking into a proposal that would dedicate more money to solving the problem.
“We did support Senate Bill 260 back in 2021 because it was the best deal available; that we could get some money into our highway system. We would be in worse shape today had we not passed Senate Bill 260 back in 2021, but looking over the last three of four years, it has not been enough,” said Tony Milo, CEO of the Colorado Contractors Association.
Senate Bill 21-260 became law in 2021 and went into effect the next year. That law introduced new fees on gas, diesel, electric vehicles, retail deliveries and rides from rideshare apps in an effort to boost funding for crumbling state infrastructure, including but not limited to roads and bridges.
The new proposal being introduced for a 2026 ballot initiative looks to make sure those fees go solely towards road improvements rather than general infrastructure and transit needs. Groups like the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Contractors Association supported the bill becoming law, but say they want to see more money going to state roads.
“What [initiative] 126 does it says that the current highway use fees: all of the fees that are really related to using the highway, rather its gas fees, diesel fee, Amazon delivery fee, ride share fee as well as two thirds of the state sales tax on auto-related purchases would be dedicated to road and bridge maintenance and expansion and construction,” Milo said.
A measure looking to ensure all money from state sales and use and excise taxes, toll fees and two-thirds of sales taxes from vehicle parts and accessories was also filed. Another initiative filed would allow cities and counties to access some of the funding.
“That money would go into the Highway User Tax Fund, which is distributed between CDOT, local counties and cities, so that counties and cities would get a share of this funding to fix the local roads,” said Milo.
Three initiatives on the topic have been filed, with the goal of getting one of them onto the ballot for voters to consider. The question would be a constitutional amendment, needing 55% voter approval to pass it. Voters would consider it in 2026.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
