John TytusColorado 2026 ballot

Proposition 136: Cap the income tax rate at 4.4%

Statute, citizen initiative. Needs a majority to pass. Read with Amendment 87, which it conflicts with.

What it does

Writes into state law that the state income tax rate for individuals and corporations may not exceed the current 4.4%, starting January 1, 2027. It doesn't change the current rate, and the legislature or a future initiative could still lower it. The constitution already requires voter approval for any rate increase. Advance Colorado, which is leading the measure, says it protects TABOR; the Blue Book's against-argument says it is designed to put Amendment 87 in legal jeopardy. If both pass, 87's rate on income over $500,000 would be higher than this 4.4% limit; the Blue Book says the measure with more votes generally controls, but here the exact outcome is unclear and left to the legislature or a court.

Blue Book arguments

For: It reinforces the voters' 2022 support for the current rate, which is fair and among the lowest in the country.

Against: It is designed to put Amendment 87 in legal jeopardy, causing confusion and a potentially costly legal battle; after 2026 it has no effect, because rate increases already need voter approval and any future approval would override it.

What it costs

Nothing. The rate stays at 4.4%.

Who is paying

Money as of the Sept 21, 2026 filing. No committee on either side is dedicated to 136 alone.

For

Committee Raised Spent
Keep Colorado Affordable (also opposes Amendment 87) $0 $0
A Brighter Colorado (eight measures) $306,625 $35,489

Brighter Colorado's pool: $250,000 Common Sense America (McLean VA), $25,000 Rado Capital, $20,000 Advance Colorado, which brought the measure. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce supports it, saying it gives a predictable and competitive tax structure.

Against

Committee Raised Spent
Vote Common Sense (nine measures) $495,000 $81,367

Vote Common Sense's largest donors: Green Advocacy Project, Washington DC, $200,000; Merle Chambers, Denver, $100,000.

Protect Colorado's Future Coalition, registered for Amendment 87 but not on 136, raised $691,495 plus $338,967 in-kind; its co-chair publicly opposes 136.

See the Amendment 87 sheet for the donor detail. Protect Colorado's Future Coalition's money is about 94% in-state.

Where the parties stand

Democrats: the Colorado Democratic Party opposes Proposition 136; its State Central Committee took the position, announced in a party press release on Sept 8, 2026.

Republicans: no position from the Colorado Republican Party found as of Sept 30, 2026. The Weld County Republican Party, a county party, supports Proposition 136 and pairs it with opposing Amendment 87.

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

What isn't known

Who funds Common Sense America. What happens if both 87 and 136 pass; the Blue Book says the exact outcome is unclear.

Sources