John TytusColorado 2026 ballot

Amendment 82: Constitutional right to buy and sell natural gas

Constitutional amendment, citizen initiative. Needs 55% to pass.

What it does

Puts into the state constitution a right for consumers to buy natural gas for cooking and heating, and a right for utilities and distributors to sell it for homes and businesses. Today the Public Utilities Commission regulates gas utilities, including a December 2025 rule requiring plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions 41% by 2035, and some towns (Crested Butte, for one) require electric appliances in new homes. The Blue Book says the measure may limit the ability of state and local governments to enforce existing or future natural gas rules. CPR News reports it could be grounds to challenge Colorado climate policies that limit the use of natural gas.

Blue Book arguments

For: Natural gas is affordable, widely available, and reliable in extreme cold; most Colorado households heat with it; the measure guarantees continued access without state or local interference.

Against: Natural gas contributes to climate change and air pollution and shouldn't be protected in the constitution; doing so limits emissions-reduction efforts and takes energy and public-health decisions away from local communities.

What it costs

The state may have a minimal cost to revise building-code guidance, and may have added workload and legal costs at agencies that regulate or monitor emissions from gas utilities. Local governments that have or are considering building codes that restrict natural gas may face legal costs to conform.

Who is paying

Money as of the Sept 21, 2026 filing.

For: no committee for Amendment 82 alone has reported money; A Brighter Colorado (several measures) has raised $306,625

Committee Raised Spent
Energy Freedom Alliance of the Rockies (registered the week of Sept 21; nothing filed) $0 $0
A Brighter Colorado (six measures plus opposing NN and 87) $306,625 $35,489

Energy Freedom Alliance of the Rockies is a 501(c)(4) whose president, Kit Pfeiffer, works for X2 Resources, a Texas oil company. Its website (efarockies.org, checked Sept 30, 2026) names no donors. Brighter Colorado's largest donors are $250,000 from Common Sense America (McLean VA; no donor information found as of Sept 30, 2026), $25,000 from Rado Capital (Englewood; its website describes "strategic oil and gas interests for sophisticated energy investors"), and $20,000 from Advance Colorado, which paid for the signature drive; 13 individuals gave the other $11,625.

No money from Xcel Energy, Atmos Energy, or the Colorado Oil & Gas Association appears on the yes side as of Sept 30. Each gave to other Colorado committees this year, none of them on Amendment 82.

Against: $355,210 raised by a committee for Amendment 82 alone; Vote Common Sense (several measures) has raised $495,000

Committee Raised Spent
No Pollution in the Constitution $355,210 $182,910
Vote Common Sense (nine measures) $495,000 $81,367

No Pollution in the Constitution's entire itemized list is three donors: Conservation Colorado, $168,690; Conservation Colorado Education Fund, $164,400; and Western Resource Advocates, $22,120. Conservation Colorado is an environmental advocacy group; Colorado Politics reports its largest donor is the League of Conservation Voters. Spending so far, $182,910: $160,850 to Global Strategy Group, $15,000 to The Bighorn Company (which CPR News reports is coordinating the campaign against the measure), $5,000 to Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, and $2,060 in smaller items. Coalition partners: 350 Colorado, League of Women Voters.

Vote Common Sense's largest donor is the Washington, D.C.-based Green Advocacy Project ($200,000), Colorado Politics reports.

Where the parties stand

Democrats: the Colorado Democratic Party opposes Amendment 82 (its State Central Committee positions, announced Sept 8, 2026).

Republicans: no position from the Colorado Republican Party found as of Sept 30, 2026 (its website could not be checked). The Weld County Republican Party, a county party, recommends a yes vote (its Resolution WCRCC-2026-09, adopted Sept 15, 2026).

No minor-party position found as of Sept 30, 2026.

What isn't known

Who else will fund either side, and through whom. Who funds Common Sense America.

Sources