Nationally, inflation is steadying with no signs of lowering, while funding for essential services, including healthcare and childcare, continues to be stripped away. Prices are rising faster than wages, and social unrest resulting from the inhumane treatment of immigrants from various countries has shaken communities across the nation, including here in Colorado.
Our state faces an $850 million budget gap, requiring legislators to meet the moment by making creative policy decisions to protect the state and improve the lives of their constituents, all while navigating much-needed funding cuts.
I recently spoke with Colorado Senate President James Coleman, who chairs the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado, about the policy priorities he plans to tackle during the 2026 Legislative Session, which convened on January 14. Coleman highlighted several key policy areas that House and Senate Democrats will focus on this session to ensure, as he put it, “everyone has what they need.”
Focus areas this session include continuing to protect and fund Colorado’s K-12 education system, healthcare access, and the rising cost of everyday necessities such as groceries and housing.
Among Coleman’s legislative priorities is continued investment in the Colorado Childcare Tax Credit, which is up for renewal this year. The tax credit incentivizes donations to after-school childcare programs, including organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, that are increasingly critical as budget constraints force cuts to other safety net provisions.
Criminal justice policy is also top of mind. Coleman noted concerns raised by community members in Aurora who have lost loved ones due to police brutality and have called on the Black Legislative Caucus for support and accountability.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of continued investment in K-12 education based on student and community needs, rather than relying primarily on property taxes and the affluence of specific neighborhoods, as has traditionally been the case.
For those feeling overwhelmed or disengaged from politics, he offered empathy and encouragement. “Be encouraged, but also be involved,” he said. “Recognize your power and that you voted for us to get elected, and that doesn’t change your level of engagement once we’re in office. If nothing else, it increases.”
