We’re tracking the Colorado General Assembly’s special session on property taxes. This week’s special session is focused on a property tax deal crafted by legislative leaders, the governor and two groups, Advance Colorado and Colorado Concern. The two groups pledged to withdraw two property tax ballot measures should the deal win approval from the General Assembly. Follow us here.

12:45 p.m. The closest of all close votes

HCR24B-1001 passes on the bare minimum, 44-19 with two excused. The very last vote was from Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, who has long had problems with the bill’s sponsor (they had a pretty public fight during last year’s special session). She initially voted “no” and then switched to “yes,” giving Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, his 44th vote.

The House has now adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday.

All three bills now move to the Senate, which has already scheduled the deal bill for Senate Appropriations. The other two bills have not yet been scheduled but should be soon. 

The Senate arrived at 11 a.m. today.

12:05 p.m. Onto the vote

It’s 45-18 on HB24B-1001, the deal bill, with two excused. Fifteen of the 18 “no” votes were from Democrats; 14 were those believed to be progressive Democrats.

They quickly moved on to the easier bill of the day, HB24B-1003, on ag equipment, which wins a 47 to 16 approval. 

Now onto the last bill in the House, HCR24B-1001, the Rep. Mike Weissman-sponsored constitutional amendment to require local citizens to approve local government spending on property taxes that result from statewide tax initiatives. This needs 44 votes, or two-thirds, to pass. Democrats hold 46 seats, so they can afford only two defections. 

11:50 a.m.

The sponsors are now speaking, signaling the end of the debate and a vote that should happen soon.

“I know it’s hard,” said House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese. “Regardless of how you vote today, I hear you.” To the people of her district, and Colorado: “I hear you. You asked for help.”

She said she believes the deal will bring relief to people. “It is important work we have done” and regardless of the vote, she said she appreciates everyone’s service.

“And. please vote yes,” she concluded.

She was followed by House Speaker Julie McCluskie, who said lawmakers had strengthened her faith in the legislative branch. The debate has been “fair, important and critical to how this body moves forward.” The testimony has been powerful on the challenges of affordability, she added. “You captured the heart of what we hear” from the people of this state.

This is a moment to govern with wisdom and maturity, and to stand together in a bipartisan way to move the state forward, she said. She acknowledged the consternation over the process. 

This deal will not take away the gains in education, she explained. “This is a decision to protect Colorado from devastating ballot measures that will roll us back.”

McCluskie also noted she asked the proponents of Propositions 50 and 108 to testify in committee earlier in the week. They declined.

She asked for a “yes” vote to show the legislative branch protects the investments it has made. 

11:35 a.m.

“I’m a taxpayer, too, and have to pinch pennies,” said Assistant House Minority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “We have to make adjustments for the new reality that is our state.”

“It is not required that we agree on everything,” Bacon said. She thanked the sponsors for trying to unify lawmakers on the bill, but then launched into a defense of lawmakers’ right to pass laws. “We only work for the people. I don’t work for somebody who’s not on this floor or even behind the glass…even if we have to debate it for more than three days” (a thinly-veiled reference to the governor, who is on the Capitol’s first floor and to the lobbyists out in the hall).

Even if there are “no” votes on the bill, it’s not because someone didn’t work hard enough, she added. “It is a signal, if you want to tell us what to do, not everyone is down for that.” And neighbors won’t be, either, Bacon said.

As Bacon spoke, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle stood up.

11:20 a.m.

Now up, Rep. Tim Hernandez, D-Denver, another progressive who lost his primary bid to return in 2025. The deal that was cut yesterday will result in a 5% increase in property taxes in his district while people who own $5 million homes will see a reduction, he said.  

“We call that property tax relief? Instead, our governor and…this legislature is enacting emergency relief for the wealthy and the rich who have the social, political and economic capital to pull dangerous ballot measures that threaten the schools that we’re all fighting for,” he said. And, instead of standing up and organizing ourselves against that, our governor, who is in the same tax bracket as these folks we’re describing” convenes a special session, with a $250 million tax break in the next year for Coloradans who don’t need it. “This is a special session for special interests.”

11:15 a.m.

Rep. Tammy Story, D-Evergreen, a progressive, said the situation for the state is “mortifying” and “humiliating,” pointing to low teacher pay and low education funding. “Our educator partners don’t love this deal. They settled for something less bad than a perceived alternative.” Fire districts are also suffering under costs they can’t cover for wages, equipment and capital improvements.

She read a letter from the chief of the Calhan fire department that covers portions of El Paso and Elbert counties, begging her to help. “This cut to my department alone will more than likely cause us to let six full-time employees go…We only have six full-time employees.” The department has part-timers, but the chief worries they will be gone as well, relying only on volunteers. 

“How is this okay? Why would anyone accept this brokered deal with the expectation that legislators just fall in line?” Story asked.

11:00 a.m.

Not hearing an updated vote count on this one; on Monday one count pegged it at 29-29 with four undecided or wavering (keep in mind there are two lawmakers excused). That would mean the backers would need all four of the undecideds to get to 33. How that vote count was affected by the amendments yesterday is unknown, but we should have a tally before long.

10:40 a.m.

Most House Republicans have taken advantage of their 10-minute opportunity to talk for or against the deal. Democrats have largely been silent, until now.

Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, among the few, spoke about her fondness for participating in representative government. “I am happy to come here…to do the people’s business.”

But “this bill is not that…The decision was made to negotiate with oligarchs.’ This is a very small number of unelected, unaccountable individuals with extremely deep pockets and boundless capacity to run ballot measures, all the things that most people can’t do; they don’t operate with public scrutiny, she said.

Money “allows them a special audience with the administration that constituents, your elected representatives could never hope to get.” This was a deal stakeholded in a backroom with people who will never be answerable to you for the outcomes, she added.

I’m guessing she’s a “no” on this. 

10:15 a.m.

Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, a former county assessor and candidate for the state Senate, is one of the most knowledgeable about property taxes among lawmakers. “I’m no stranger to the question posed ‘where are my taxes going?’ We’ve discussed in depth, the last few days, it’s a simple question with a complicated answer.” 

Revenue hasn’t changed much for districts that haven’t de-Bruced, she said. Those that have are seeing exorbitant growth in revenue, and some lowered their mill levies. “It’s all over the place, that’s the complicated answer,” she said. 

She called out deGruy Kennedy in talking about the work the two did during the last session. “We have great responsibility to weigh all the possibilities and all the outcomes,” which doesn’t necessarily happen with ballot measures. While it’s onerous to put an initiative in front of the title board, the responsibility is not the same, she said. “Thank you for doing the right things for the citizens of Colorado.” 

Let’s get serious about housing, she said. “Let’s work on promoting entry-level housing so those waiting in line can afford to buy a home; that will increase the supply of rental housing” and let’s work on construction defect legislation. 

10:00 a.m. Two lawmakers excused

The same two lawmakers who were excused Monday have yet to return. We don’t expect to see Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, R-Watkins, as he is battling cancer. The more curious absence is of Speaker Pro tem Chris DeGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. He was a member of the property tax commission (but has not attended recent meetings) and one of the architects (and sponsors) of Senate Bill 24-233, the property tax relief bill that is an integral part of the conversations during this special session.

DeGruy Kennedy took a job as head of the Bell Policy Center on July 1, and that’s why he isn’t here now. The Bell has been a significant ally on the property tax issue for Democrats. DeGruy 

He told Colorado Politics today that he was erring on the side of caution with regards to ethical rules. “While my job description at the Bell doesn’t include lobbying, it’s obvious that the Bell has a clear perspective on a very conspicuous issue. I don’t want anyone calling my motives into question.”

He also took a dig at a couple of people in his response. “Given that I’m so closely associated with this issue, I feared that showing up, even if just to vote, would provoke accusations from Sen. [Barb] Kirkmeyer and Michael Fields suggesting I was doing something appropriate.”

9:45 a.m. Mostly Republicans talking on the main deal bill

The sponsors (House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese) got the bill started Wednesday with a technical amendment, which passed.

Rep. Ken DeGraaf (R-Colorado Springs) tried one of his own but couldn’t get permission — and that did not surprise him.

Most of the Republicans so far (with the exception of the far-right of the caucus) are indicating they will vote for it. 

Rep. Scott Bottoms, R-Colorado Springs, said he will not vote for it but wouldn’t vote for Proposition 108, either. As to the main bill, “the entire thing is a lie and we’re being played,” he told the House. 

“None of us have achieved everything we wanted here,” said Rep. Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker.

9:15 a.m. And they’re off and running

What’s on tap for day 3 of the legislature’s special session on property taxes:

Third reading votes on the three bills (out of 13) left standing as of today: House Bill24B-1001, the main deal bill, which is up first; HB24B-1003, on business personal property for ag equipment, and HCR24B-1001, the constitutional amendment on requiring local voter approval on statewide initiatives that impact local government property tax revenue. 

Once those votes are completed, the bills remaining will be sent over to the Senate, and the whole process will start anew. The bills will be introduced and sent to committees. They will then be debated on second reading, although that’s not guaranteed to happen today. 

Final votes could be as soon as tomorrow, and the special session could be over as soon as tomorrow.