County lobbyists flag property-tax, TANF and nuclear bills as priorities for Pueblo County

Capital Success Group, Pueblo County's contract lobbyist, told county commissioners on March 6 it is monitoring several state budget and policy items that could affect county finances and services. The firm flagged House Bill 1199, concerns about county administration funding in Health Care Policy and Finance figure setting, the status of a county-commissioner bill that was defeated in committee, and a nuclear energy measure now headed to the Senate.

The update came at the start of the Board of County Commissioners' work session. Gil, the lead lobbyist from Capital Success Group, said the state is facing an estimated $1.2 billion shortfall and that the firm is pressing budget committee members to hold funding requested for county administration. He said the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance was expected to finish figure setting “today or tomorrow” on a roughly $21 million increase for county administration that lobbyists are watching.

Ryan, another Capital Success Group representative, summarized specific legislation the firm is tracking. He said House Bill 1199 — described as a property-tax schedule bill that had been flagged by the county treasurer — was delayed in committee while the sponsor works on amendments and that counties and the Colorado Counties, Inc. association (CCI) have raised concerns. Ryan said the sponsor promised to share proposed amendments with the county but had not done so by the meeting.

Ryan also reported that the county-commissioner bill (identified in discussion as 1165) failed in committee for a third consecutive year, noting the state budget picture diminished appetite for measures that could impose new local costs. He added that a nuclear energy bill had passed its first committee and the House floor and was scheduled for a Senate committee hearing the following Monday.

Alec, a third Capital Success Group staffer, described an extended discussion at the DHS figure-setting hearing about the condition of state and county TANF reserves. Alec said an analyst, Tom Dermody, presented a memo forecasting counties could fall below reserve minimums by the end of fiscal year 2026–27, and that state reserves could be drawn down near or below minimum levels, requiring general-fund backfill if state revenue permits.

Commissioners asked questions about other bills. The group said they were tracking an extreme-heat bill (House Bill 1286) at the request of an elected official and that Senate Bill 3 — a gun-related bill — had an initially large fiscal note (about $20 million) that lobbyists expected to be revised upward, which would make passage more difficult this session.

Capital Success Group said it would share any sponsor amendments it receives and will continue to update the county’s bill tracker with weekly reports.

Ending: Commissioners did not take formal votes on the bills during the meeting. Lobbyists said they would circulate amendments and fiscal-note updates as they arrive so county staff and elected officials can decide whether to request additional follow-up or testimony.