Senate Committee of Reference Report
Committee on Appropriations
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April 24, 2026
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:
SB26-023 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation:
Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, page 3, after line 4 insert:
Page 1, Line 2"SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-20-107.5, add
Page 1, Line 3(1.5) as follows:
Page 1, Line 422-20-107.5. District of residence of a child with a disability -
Page 1, Line 5jurisdiction - rules.
Page 1, Line 6(1.5) The state board shall adopt rules that are
Page 1, Line 7necessary to determine a child's district of residence for a
Page 1, Line 8circumstance that is not described in subsection (1) of this
Page 1, Line 9section.
Page 1, Line 10SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-20-114, amend
Page 1, Line 11(1) introductory portion, (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1.3) as follows:
Page 1, Line 1222-20-114. Funding of programs - application for
Page 1, Line 13reimbursement - rules - legislative declaration - definition.
Page 1, Line 14(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, for
Page 1, Line 15the 2005-06 budget year and each budget year thereafter the total amount
Page 1, Line 16appropriated to the department for the payment of costs incurred by
Page 1, Line 17administrative units for the provision, or expenses related to the
Page 1, Line 18provision, of special education programs must be distributed to each
Page 1, Line 19administrative unit that provides, or pays for the provision of,
Page 1, Line 20educational services for children with disabilities as follows:
Page 1, Line 21(a) (I) Five hundred thousand dollars to administrative units that
Page 1, Line 22enroll children with disabilities For the 2026-27 budget year and
Page 1, Line 23each budget year thereafter, one million dollars to fund
Page 1, Line 24reimbursements for administrative units that pay tuition or
Page 1, Line 25education expenses that ensure a free appropriate public
Page 1, Line 26education for a student in out-of-home placement, as defined in
Page 1, Line 27section 22-32-138 (1)(h), if:
Page 2, Line 1(A) For whom tuition is paid by the administrative units for the
Page 2, Line 2children to receive educational services at approved facility schools; and
Page 2, Line 3The student has an individualized education program;
Page 2, Line 4(B) For whom parental rights have been relinquished by the
Page 2, Line 5parents or terminated by a court, the parents of whom are incarcerated,
Page 2, Line 6the parents of whom cannot be located, the parents of whom reside out of
Page 2, Line 7the state but the department of human services has placed the children
Page 2, Line 8within the administrative unit, or children with disabilities who are legally
Page 2, Line 9emancipated. The student does not have a parent or legal
Page 2, Line 10guardian, as described in section 22-20-103 (19.7)(a)(I), (19.7)(a)(II),
Page 2, Line 11or (19.7)(a)(III), who is available or authorized to make decisions
Page 2, Line 12concerning education for the student; and
Page 2, Line 13(C) The student is placed by a public agency, as defined in
Page 2, Line 14section 22-20-103 (20), in a residential child care facility or
Page 2, Line 15residential treatment facility that is located out of state or in
Page 2, Line 16an approved facility school, as defined in section 22-2-402.
Page 2, Line 17(II) The moneys appropriated pursuant to subparagraph (I) of this
Page 2, Line 18paragraph (a) shall be distributed in each budget year to administrative
Page 2, Line 19units based upon each administrative unit's share of the aggregate number
Page 2, Line 20of children with disabilities who are specified in subparagraph (I) of this
Page 2, Line 21paragraph (a); except that an administrative unit shall not receive an
Page 2, Line 22amount that exceeds the aggregate amount of tuition paid by that
Page 2, Line 23administrative unit for the specified children with disabilities to receive
Page 2, Line 24educational services at approved facility schools during the immediately
Page 2, Line 25preceding budget year. For purposes of this paragraph (a), the number of
Page 2, Line 26children with disabilities that are specified in subparagraph (I) of this
Page 2, Line 27paragraph (a) shall be based upon the count taken in December of the
Page 2, Line 28immediately preceding budget year. In the 2026-27 budget year and
Page 2, Line 29each budget year thereafter, the department shall distribute
Page 2, Line 30the appropriation described in subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section
Page 2, Line 31pursuant to an application for reimbursement process. The state
Page 2, Line 32board shall adopt rules related to the application for
Page 2, Line 33reimbursement process.
Page 2, Line 34(b) (I) For the budget years preceding the 2022-23 budget year, an
Page 2, Line 35amount equal to one thousand two hundred fifty dollars for each child
Page 2, Line 36with disabilities receiving special education services from the
Page 2, Line 37administrative unit;
Page 2, Line 38(II) Except as specified in subsection (1.3) of this section, for the
Page 2, Line 392022-23 budget year and each budget year thereafter, an amount equal to
Page 2, Line 40one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars for each child with disabilities
Page 2, Line 41receiving special education services from the administrative unit; and
Page 2, Line 42(1.3) For the 2024-25 budget year and budget years thereafter, The
Page 2, Line 43dollar amounts set forth in subsections (1)(b)(II) and (1)(c)(III)
Page 3, Line 1subsections (1)(b) and (1)(c)(III) of this section are annually increased
Page 3, Line 2by the rate of inflation. The amounts must be rounded to the nearest
Page 3, Line 3dollar. As used in this subsection (1.3), "inflation" means the annual
Page 3, Line 4percentage change in the United States department of labor bureau of
Page 3, Line 5labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for
Page 3, Line 6all items paid by all urban consumers, or its applicable successor index.
Page 3, Line 7SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-205, amend
Page 3, Line 8(1), (2), (3), and (4); and add (6) as follows:
Page 3, Line 922-82.9-205. Local food purchasing grant - amount - advisory
Page 3, Line 10committee - verification of invoices - definition.
Page 3, Line 11(1) (a) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, each participating
Page 3, Line 12school food authority or charter school that operates under a
Page 3, Line 13participating charter school food authority that commits to
Page 3, Line 14operating an advisory committee as described in subsection (3) of this
Page 3, Line 15section is eligible to receive a local food purchasing grant pursuant to this
Page 3, Line 16section to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or processed products. It is
Page 3, Line 17the general assembly's intent that these grants be used primarily to support
Page 3, Line 18small- and medium-sized farms and ranches.
Page 3, Line 19(b) On or before August 1 of the first full budget year in which
Page 3, Line 20this section is effective as provided in subsection (5) of this section and
Page 3, Line 21on or before August 1 of each budget year thereafter, each participating
Page 3, Line 22school food authority grantee shall track and report to the department
Page 3, Line 23for the preceding budget year:
Page 3, Line 24(I) The total amount spent in purchasing all products used in
Page 3, Line 25preparing meals and how much of that total was attributable to the local
Page 3, Line 26food purchasing grant the participating school food authority grantee
Page 3, Line 27received;
Page 3, Line 28(II) The total amount spent to purchase Colorado grown, raised,
Page 3, Line 29or processed products and how much of that total was attributable to the
Page 3, Line 30local food purchasing grant the participating school food authority
Page 3, Line 31grantee received;
Page 3, Line 32(III) The total amount spent to purchase value-added processed
Page 3, Line 33products and how much of that total was attributable to the local food
Page 3, Line 34purchasing grant the participating school food authority grantee
Page 3, Line 35received; and
Page 3, Line 36(IV) The total number of eligible meals the participating school
Page 3, Line 37food authority grantee provided to students.
Page 3, Line 38(2) (a) Subject to subsection (2)(b) of this section, at the beginning
Page 3, Line 39of each budget year the department, subject to available appropriations,
Page 3, Line 40shall distribute to each participating school food authority grantee that
Page 3, Line 41is eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section an amount established
Page 3, Line 42pursuant to section 22-82.9-211 (3). The participating school food
Page 3, Line 43authority grantee shall use the money received pursuant to this section
Page 4, Line 1to purchase only Colorado grown, raised, or processed products and as
Page 4, Line 2provided in subsection (3)(b) of this section and shall not use more than
Page 4, Line 3twenty-five percent of the amount received to purchase value-added
Page 4, Line 4processed products. In addition, a school food authority participating
Page 4, Line 5grantee may use up to ten percent of the money received pursuant to
Page 4, Line 6this section to pay allowable costs, as identified by rules of the state
Page 4, Line 7board, incurred in complying with this section.
Page 4, Line 8(b) At the beginning of each budget year, each participating
Page 4, Line 9school food authority grantee shall submit to the department an estimate
Page 4, Line 10of the amount it expects to spend to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or
Page 4, Line 11processed products for the budget year; a description of the items and
Page 4, Line 12amounts it expects to purchase; and a list of the suppliers from which it
Page 4, Line 13expects to purchase the items. If, based on the information provided, the
Page 4, Line 14department determines that a participating school food authority grantee
Page 4, Line 15is unlikely to spend the full amount of the grant described in subsection
Page 4, Line 16(2)(a) of this section, the department shall reduce the amount of the grant
Page 4, Line 17accordingly. The department shall distribute to other participating school
Page 4, Line 18food authorities grantees that are eligible to receive grants pursuant to
Page 4, Line 19this section any amount that is retained pursuant to this subsection (2)(b).
Page 4, Line 20The department shall distribute the additional amounts to the participating
Page 4, Line 21school food authorities grantees for which the grant amount calculated
Page 4, Line 22pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section is less than twenty-five
Page 4, Line 23thousand dollars, prioritized based on the highest identified student
Page 4, Line 24percentages and greatest financial need.
Page 4, Line 25(3) (a) To receive a local food purchasing grant pursuant to this
Page 4, Line 26section, a participating school food authority grantee must have or
Page 4, Line 27establish an advisory committee made up of students and parents of
Page 4, Line 28students enrolled in the public schools served by the participating school
Page 4, Line 29food authority. In selecting students and parents to serve on the advisory
Page 4, Line 30committee, the participating school food authority grantee shall ensure
Page 4, Line 31that the membership of the advisory committee reflects the racial, ethnic,
Page 4, Line 32and socioeconomic demographics of the student population enrolled by
Page 4, Line 33the participating school food authority grantee. The advisory committee
Page 4, Line 34shall advise the participating school food authority grantee concerning
Page 4, Line 35the selection of foods to ensure that meals are culturally relevant, healthy,
Page 4, Line 36and appealing to all ages of the student population.
Page 4, Line 37(b) A participating school food authority grantee may use up to
Page 4, Line 38twelve percent of the amount received pursuant to subsection (2) of this
Page 4, Line 39section to support implementation of the advisory committee required in
Page 4, Line 40subsection (3)(a) of this section.
Page 4, Line 41(c) A school food authority grantee that provided one million or
Page 4, Line 42fewer lunches in the 2023-24 school year may, subject to approval by the
Page 4, Line 43department, work with other school food authorities grantees to
Page 5, Line 1implement an advisory committee that collaborates with multiple school
Page 5, Line 2food authorities.
Page 5, Line 3(d) An advisory committee established pursuant to this subsection
Page 5, Line 4(3) is not limited to, but may:
Page 5, Line 5(I) Schedule and hold meetings as necessary for the advisory
Page 5, Line 6committee to have ongoing collaboration with the participating school
Page 5, Line 7food authority grantee and achieve the advisory committee's goals;
Page 5, Line 8(II) Through student surveys or other methods as necessary, gather
Page 5, Line 9student feedback on meals and meal preferences;
Page 5, Line 10(III) Suggest the types of purchases of local ingredients to the
Page 5, Line 11school food authority grantee that would support local farmers and
Page 5, Line 12ranchers in the school food authority's region;
Page 5, Line 13(IV) Inform the school food authority of recipes that are both
Page 5, Line 14nutritious and reflect the cultures of the student population enrolled by the
Page 5, Line 15participating school food authority grantee;
Page 5, Line 16(V) Taste test healthy meal options;
Page 5, Line 17(VI) Develop solutions to reduce food waste;
Page 5, Line 18(VII) Assist the school food authority grantee in developing
Page 5, Line 19plans to support more scratch cooking;
Page 5, Line 20(VIII) Assist the school food authority participating grantee
Page 5, Line 21in obtaining the necessary resources to provide meals that are culturally
Page 5, Line 22relevant, healthy, and appealing to all ages of the student population;
Page 5, Line 23(IX) Inform the school food authority grantee of, and assist in
Page 5, Line 24the implementation of, strategies to maximize the collection and
Page 5, Line 25completion of household income application forms for national school
Page 5, Line 26lunch programs;
Page 5, Line 27(X) Evaluate the effectiveness of the advisory committee in
Page 5, Line 28supporting the school food authority participating grantee in
Page 5, Line 29improving meal quality and student satisfaction with the meals provided
Page 5, Line 30by the school food authority grantee; and
Page 5, Line 31(XI) Learn from a school food authority grantee about the
Page 5, Line 32logistics of local food procurement, menu requirements, and operational
Page 5, Line 33management to support the advisory committee in suggesting realistic and
Page 5, Line 34attainable changes to school meals.
Page 5, Line 35(e) A school food authority grantee may contract with an
Page 5, Line 36external nonprofit organization to convene and facilitate an advisory
Page 5, Line 37committee pursuant to this subsection (3).
Page 5, Line 38(4) The department shall annually require a selected group of
Page 5, Line 39participating school food authorities grantees that received a grant
Page 5, Line 40pursuant to this section in the preceding budget year to submit to the
Page 5, Line 41department a representative sample of the invoices for the products
Page 5, Line 42purchased using the grant money. No later than September 1 of the
Page 5, Line 43second budget year in which this section is effective as provided in
Page 6, Line 1subsection (5) of this section, and no later than September 1 of each year
Page 6, Line 2thereafter, the department shall review the invoices to verify that the
Page 6, Line 3products purchased met the requirements specified in this section. If the
Page 6, Line 4department finds that a participating school food authority used a
Page 6, Line 5significant portion of the grant money, as determined by rule of the state
Page 6, Line 6board, to purchase products that did not meet the requirements of this
Page 6, Line 7section, the participating school food authority grantee is ineligible to
Page 6, Line 8receive a grant pursuant to this section for the next budget year following
Page 6, Line 9the budget year in which the department completes the review.
Page 6, Line 10(6) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
Page 6, Line 11requires, "grantee" means a participating school food authority
Page 6, Line 12or charter school that operates under a participating school
Page 6, Line 13food authority described in subsection (1) of this section that is
Page 6, Line 14eligible for and receives a local food purchasing grant program
Page 6, Line 15pursuant to this section.
Page 6, Line 16SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-206, amend
Page 6, Line 17(1) as follows:
Page 6, Line 1822-82.9-206. School meals food preparation and service
Page 6, Line 19employees - wage increase or stipend.
Page 6, Line 20(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, in addition to the
Page 6, Line 21amounts received pursuant to sections 22-82.9-204 and 22-82.9-205, a
Page 6, Line 22participating school food authority or charter school that operates
Page 6, Line 23under a participating charter school food authority may receive
Page 6, Line 24an amount described in section 22-82.9-211 (3), so long as the
Page 6, Line 25participating school food authority or charter school that operates
Page 6, Line 26under a participating charter school food authority uses one
Page 6, Line 27hundred percent of the amount received pursuant to this section to
Page 6, Line 28increase wages or provide stipends for individuals whom the participating
Page 6, Line 29school food authority employs to directly prepare and serve food for
Page 6, Line 30school meals. To receive the amount described in this section, a
Page 6, Line 31participating school food authority or charter school that operates
Page 6, Line 32under a participating charter school food authority must submit
Page 6, Line 33documentation to the department as required by rules of the state board
Page 6, Line 34to demonstrate that the increase in wages or provision of stipends using
Page 6, Line 35the amount received pursuant to this section is implemented for the
Page 6, Line 36budget year in which the amount is received.
Page 6, Line 37SECTION 6. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,
Page 6, Line 38$3,755,558 is appropriated to the department of education. This
Page 6, Line 39appropriation is from the state education fund created in section 17 (4)(a)
Page 6, Line 40of article IX of the state constitution. To implement this act, the
Page 6, Line 41department may use this appropriation for state share of districts' total
Page 6, Line 42program funding.
Page 6, Line 43SECTION 7. Appropriation. For the 2026-27 state fiscal year,
Page 7, Line 1$5,375,404 is appropriated to the department of education. This
Page 7, Line 2appropriation is from the state education fund created in section 17 (4)(a)
Page 7, Line 3of article IX of the state constitution. To implement this act, the
Page 7, Line 4department may use this appropriation for state share of districts' total
Page 7, Line 5program funding.
Page 7, Line 6SECTION 8. Appropriation - adjustments to 2026 long bill.
Page 7, Line 7(1) To implement this act, the appropriation from the state education
Page 7, Line 8fund created in section 17 (4)(a) of article IX of the state constitution for
Page 7, Line 9use by student pathways for postsecondary workforce readiness
Page 7, Line 10administration is decreased by $267,424;
Page 7, Line 11(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not require a reduction of
Page 7, Line 12an appropriation in the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27
Page 7, Line 13state fiscal year if:
Page 7, Line 14(a) The amount of the state education fund appropriation made in
Page 7, Line 15the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to
Page 7, Line 16the department of education for use by student pathways for
Page 7, Line 17postsecondary workforce readiness administration is less than the amount
Page 7, Line 18of the adjustment required in subsection (1) of this section; or
Page 7, Line 19(b) The annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state
Page 7, Line 20fiscal year does not include an appropriation to the department of
Page 7, Line 21education for use by student pathways for postsecondary workforce
Page 7, Line 22readiness administration.
Page 7, Line 23SECTION 9. Appropriation. For the 2026-27 state fiscal year,
Page 7, Line 24$267,424 is appropriated to the department of education for use by
Page 7, Line 25student pathways. This appropriation is from the state education fund
Page 7, Line 26created in section 17 (4)(a) of article IX of the state constitution. To
Page 7, Line 27implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for
Page 7, Line 28postsecondary workforce readiness sustain for LEPs.
Page 7, Line 29SECTION 10. Effective date. This act takes effect upon passage;
Page 7, Line 30except that section 4 of this act takes effect only if the annual general
Page 7, Line 31appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year becomes law, in which
Page 7, Line 32case section 4 takes effect upon the effective date of this act or of the
Page 7, Line 33annual general appropriation act for state fiscal year 2026-27, whichever
Page 7, Line 34is later.".
Page 7, Line 35Renumber succeeding section accordingly.
Page 7, Line 36Page 1, line 101, strike "schools." and substitute "schools, and, in
Page 7, Line 37connection therewith, making and reducing an
Page 7, Line 38appropriation.".