Proponents present 'Ubuntu Act' initiative to expand protections for survivors of post-separation abuse

Proponents of proposed initiative measure 2025-26 No. 42 — calling it the “Ubuntu Act” — told staff of the Colorado Legislative Council and the Office of Legislative Legal Services on March 20, 2025, that the measure would expand protections and services for survivors of domestic and post-separation abuse, strengthen training for judges, law enforcement and child welfare professionals, and create more permanent or “tailored” protection orders for survivors and children.

The hearing was a review-and-comment session required under Colorado law. Julianne Jensen, a staff member of the Colorado Legislative Council, opened the meeting by describing the purpose of the review and identifying the subject of the hearing: “we are here for proposed initiative measure 20 25 26 number 42 concerning protections regarding domestic abuse in tribal courts,” and then read the statutory preface for the proceeding.

The Office of Legislative Legal Services asked the proponents to supply the actual statutory text that would be added to the Colorado Revised Statutes, rather than a description of the proposal’s intent, and flagged constitutional single-subject requirements under Article V. Chelsea Princell, of the Office of Legislative Legal Services, told proponents that the initiative must include actionable statutory language and that the enacting clause and effective date provisions should follow constitutional requirements. Proponents indicated the default effective date tied to the…