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Broomfield council moves to seek changes to Colorado Voting Rights Act, backs TABOR court challenge resolution
Summary
At its April 8 meeting the Broomfield City Council voted unanimously to seek amendments to the Colorado Voting Rights Act and voted 9-1 to support a state legislative resolution seeking a court review of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). Staff briefed council on the long bill, budget outlook and other bills the council is tracking.
The Broomfield City Council on April 8 voted unanimously to ask the Colorado Municipal League and staff to pursue amendments to Senate Bill 25-1, the Colorado Voting Rights Act, and voted 9-1 to support a House Joint Resolution that would ask the General Assembly to seek a court review of the constitutionality of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
City staff presented a legislative update during the meeting, outlining the status of the state budget (the “long bill”), the pace of the session and a set of bills the council has been tracking. Denae Broillard, director of strategic initiatives and governmental affairs, told council the long bill had passed its first chamber and was in the second, and that staff recommended moving from a monitor to an amend position on SB25-1 to press for changes related to due process and burden-of-proof standards for claims under the proposed state act.
Why it matters: council positions are routinely conveyed through municipal associations and lobbying channels; a formal amend position signals Broomfield will push for specific language to protect how local governments run elections and defend against voting-rights litigation. Council also debated the broader fiscal context: staff noted an estimated state budget deficit of about $1.1–$1.2 billion this session and described the long bill’s role in reconciling programmatic appropriations and related “orbital” bills.
Council discussion focused on the practical impacts of the measures on local elections and finance. Councilmember Marsh Holshin asked whether the voting-rights bill would affect how wards are drawn; Broillard said the secretary of state had offered a pre-amend that removed a potentially disruptive provision but she would confirm. Councilmember Ward pressed for details about burden and datasets; City and County Attorney Daniel Rogers confirmed the bill would rely on Census Bureau data and therefore cover populations not limited to registered voters.
Action taken: Councilmember Ward moved to take an amend position on SB25-1; Councilmember Ray Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Later, Councilmember Henkel moved that Broomfield support the House Joint Resolution concerning TABOR’s constitutionality; after debate the motion passed 9–1.
Other bills mentioned in staff’s briefing included local positions on wireless telecom permitting, housing-related bills and transit funding measures; staff said the city’s bill tracker was being updated in real time and that the council would receive follow-up information as bills advance.
The council asked staff to provide written confirmations about specific amendments and to continue coordinating with the Colorado Municipal League. Staff said it would circulate updates and follow up with council as more amendment language and fiscal analyses became available.
