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SB 168

Transparency of Legislative Caucuses' Money

2026 Regular Session

Requires quarterly financial reports from legislative caucuses and public posting with donor addresses redacted.

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Bill Summary · SB 168

Summary of SB 168 (2026A) — Transparency of Legislative Caucuses' Money (Colorado)

Purpose and intent

SB 168 establishes a formal requirement for transparency around money handled by legislative caucuses. The bill defines what counts as a legislative caucus, sets reporting duties, and requires public posting of financial information by the Legislative Council Staff. The overarching aim is to increase accountability by making receipts and expenditures of legislative caucuses publicly accessible, while safeguarding donor identities to some extent (through redaction).

Key provisions and changes

  • Definition of legislative caucus
    A legislative caucus is defined as two or more legislators organized around a common interest, ideology, issue, identity, or any other reason, that accepts, receives, or expends money other than personal funds. The bill excludes:

    • Committees, boards, or commissions created by statute or legislative rule, or to which legislators are appointed by leadership.
    • Committees governed by Article 45 of Title 1.

  • Reporting requirements

    • Each legislative caucus must have at least one member submit a quarterly report to the Legislative Council Staff.
    • Reports must cover money received, accepted, or expended during the relevant period the caucus was active.
    • Four quarterly reporting periods align with calendar quarters:
    • Oct 1 – Dec 31 (due Jan 15)
    • Jan 1 – Mar 31 (due Apr 15)
    • Apr 1 – Jun 30 (due July 15)
    • Jul 1 – Sep 30 (due Oct 15)
    • If a due date falls on a weekend or state holiday, the deadline shifts to the next working day.

  • Contact information
    Each caucus must provide accurate contact information to the Legislative Council Staff, including:

    • Official name
    • Mailing address
    • Primary email
    • Designated member authorized to send/receive official communications

  • Reporting content

    • Reports must include a receipts list detailing all money and items received, accepted, or expended.
    • For receipts: include donor name and address, amount, and date of receipt/acceptance.
    • If a donor provides an item, the caucus must include a written statement of the item’s dollar value.

  • Public posting and redaction
    The Legislative Council Staff must post each report on a publicly accessible page on the Colorado General Assembly website and must redact donor addresses before posting.

  • No-activity reports
    If a caucus does not receive, accept, or expend money or items in a given quarter, it must file a no-activity report as prescribed.

Who is affected

  • Directly affected: Legislators forming and operating legislative caucuses in Colorado.
  • Other affected parties: Donors and entities engaging with caucuses (subject to redaction of donor addresses in published reports).

Timing and effective date

  • Effective date: 12:01 a.m. on the day after the 90th day following final adjournment of the 2026 regular session (targeting August 12, 2026, absent any referendum).
  • Applicability: Applies to actions taken and money/items received, accepted, or expended on or after October 1, 2026.
  • Public posting of reports starts once the statute takes effect.

Procedural notes

  • If a referendum petition is filed, the act, or parts thereof, would take effect only if approved by voters in the November 2026 election.
  • The bill includes standard “section-by-section” additions and clarifications, including a defined term for “legislative caucus” and clear reporting timelines.

This bill would enhance transparency by requiring quarterly financial reporting from legislative caucuses and public posting of that information, with safeguards to redact donor addresses.

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

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