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JBC caucus previews 2026 long bill: $17.3 billion general fund, deep cuts and contested transfers from ballot funds
Summary
A Joint Budget Committee caucus reviewed the 2026 long bill, noting a $17.3 billion general fund and roughly $49.5 billion in total funds, outlined department-by-department reductions, and previewed contested transfers from ballot-authorized funds and a temporary reserve cut to free $350 million.
Senator Bridges, speaking for the Joint Budget Committee caucus, opened a department-by-department walkthrough of the 2026 long bill and emphasized the difference between the state's general fund and total funds. "We have a general fund budget of $17,300,000,000," Bridges said, adding that the state's "total fund budget" is roughly 49.5 billion and that the committee primarily controls the general fund portion.
Bridges and other JBC members described across-the-board choices that resulted in reductions in many departments while protecting certain priorities. The committee highlighted notable shifts: a 9.6% reduction at the Department of Agriculture largely driven by use of its agricultural management fund, trimmed general-fund support for CDPHE, and narrowing of general-fund contributions to transportation multimodal grants.
The caucus previewed several high-profile legislative moves tied to the budget. Bridges described House Bill 1363, which would temporarily reduce the statutory reserve requirement from 15% to 13% for the current and following fiscal year to free about $350 million in budget capacity. "I think 13% strikes the right balance here," Bridges said, framing the change as a hedge against a potential recession while preserving future flexibility.
The caucus also flagged transfers from ballot-authorized funds as a source of debate. Bridges noted a transfer of roughly $130 million from Prop 1-2-3/OEDIT under House Bill 1360 and said opponents accused the committee of violating voter intent, while he argued the ballot language permits the move. The meeting included discussion of changes to the marijuana cash tax fund distribution that would stop an automatic state shareback to local governments going forward.
Members emphasized the next procedural steps: amendments to the long bill and associated orbitals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. the same day, and the caucus will consider those amendments before floor debate.
