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Bill

HCR 1005

Limit Election of Legislators Who Fill Vacancies

2026 Regular Session

Prohibits any legislator appointed to fill a vacancy from running for the next full term in the same district.

House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
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Bill Summary · HCR 1005

Summary of HCR 1005 (2026A) - Colorado

What the bill does

HCR 1005 is a House Concurrent Resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to Colorado voters. If approved by at least 55% of voters in the November 2026 general election, the amendment would prohibit a person who was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Colorado General Assembly from serving a subsequent consecutive term in the same district after the unexpired term they were appointed to fill.

In other words, someone appointed by a vacancy committee to fill a legislative seat cannot run for, and hold, the next full term in that same district.

Key provisions

  • Target of the prohibition: Any person who was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Colorado House of Representatives or Colorado Senate (i.e., via vacancy committee) and then seeks election to a term immediately following the unexpired term they were appointed to fill.
  • Operational effect if adopted: The appointed legislator would be barred from serving the immediately following term in the same district.
  • Constitutional change mechanism: The measure would amend Article V, Section 4 of the Colorado Constitution.
  • Ballot language for voters: The amendment asks voters to decide whether to prohibit “a person being a state legislator for a term of office immediately following the unexpired term for which the person was appointed to fill a vacancy in the same district.”
  • Effective date if approved: The amendment would take effect upon proclamation of the Governor, no later than 30 days after the official canvass of the vote.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries/targets: Individuals appointed to fill legislative vacancies who would otherwise be able to run for the immediately following full term.
  • Candidates and parties: State representatives and state senators who were appointed to fill a vacancy would face new restrictions on subsequent elections for the same district.
  • State and local government: No new ongoing fiscal or staffing costs are anticipated from the amendment itself; costs are tied to the statewide election process.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal impact (summary): The fiscal note indicates no net state expenditures or revenue changes resulting directly from the amendment. Any costs would be elec­tion-related and covered by existing election funding and appropriations.
  • Election costs: Referendum requires costs associated with placing the measure on the 2026 ballot, including county reimbursements for election costs, publishing the measure, and preparing the ballot information booklet.
  • Legislative process: The bill is a concurrent resolution referred to voters for a constitutional amendment. If it passes both chambers and is placed on the ballot, it would require voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

Effective date

  • If voters approve the amendment, it becomes part of the Colorado Constitution upon the Governor’s proclamation, no later than 30 days after the official canvass of the election.

Summary of implications

  • The amendment would reduce the likelihood that vacancy-appointed lawmakers continue to serve in the immediately following term in the same district.
  • It introduces a new eligibility constraint tied to the method of initial selection (appointment via vacancy committee) rather than to general electoral performance alone.
  • No ongoing state expenditures are expected beyond standard election costs; fiscal impact is limited to the standard process for referring a measure to the voters.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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