SUBJECT:
Title
Review and Approval of 2026 Legislative Agenda
Department
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
Communications & Community Engagement
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Gabi Rae, Director of Communications & Community Engagement
Julian Jacquin, Director of Economic Development & TOEURA
end
Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
end
For time estimate: please put 0 for Consent items.
Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
N/A
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
The Town Council and staff can advocate for and against proposed bills during the Legislative Session. An approved Legislative Agenda clarifies Town policies and positions and provides guidance for consistent legislative engagement.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the 2026 Legislative Agenda
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• The 2026 Legislative Agenda reflects the priorities shared by the community in various surveys, and incorporates edits provided by Town Council.
• Items in the Legislative Agenda are intended to be high-level to cover various bills that may be introduced during the Legislative Session.
• The Legislative Agenda is intended to be used by Council and staff to determine whether to advocate on issues at the Capital and when considering the Town’s stance on the policy priorities created by the various regional bodies Erie is aligned with.
• Staff created an internal Legislative Action Team to support bill tracking, testimony, coordination and monthly updates during the legislative cycle.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The 2026 Legislative Agenda will be the Town’s third iteration of such tool used to reflect the Town’s State and Federal policy priorities. A legislative agenda serves as a useful document for the Town in managing legislative affairs prior to, and during, the Legislative Session. In addition to summarizing the Town’s key policy priorities, the Legislative Agenda:
• Reflects the Town’s interests regarding State and Federal legislative actions and administrative policy.
• Establishes agreement among the Town Council regarding legislative positions, reducing the need for the Council to meet and approve specific positions on bills as they emerge.
• Indicates the Town’s policy priorities for our State and Federal delegation to help inform their legislative activities and decision-making.
• Serves as a roadmap for Town Council Members and Erie staff regarding engagement in legislative advocacy.
• Guides engagement with State associations, regional groups, and other partners.
Each year, staff review the previous Legislative Agenda and identify any additional policy priorities that have an intersection with State and/or Federal policy and identify any priorities that no longer align with Town goals. The policy priorities are developed through review of the community’s priorities, the Town Council’s Work Plan priorities, interviews with department directors, consideration of the current political landscape (including the make-up of the Colorado General Assembly), and context from the previous legislative session.
In addition, staff also incorporates issues that impact Erie and have been identified by partner organizations including the Colorado Municipal League (CML), Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), Mayors and Commissioners Coalition (MCC), Metro Mayors Caucus (MMC), Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA), and other statewide and regional partnerships that will directly affect the Town’s operations and/or constituents.
Finally, Council Members have an opportunity to review and edit the draft Legislative Agenda. The version presented with this agenda item represents all the review and processes above.
Legislative Action Team
To support coordinated legislative engagement, staff created an internal Legislative Action Team. The team administers the Legislative Agenda, tracks bills, monitors hearings, coordinates testimony, collaborates with CML and Erie’s State delegation, and provides monthly updates to Town Council.
Legislative Action Team Members:
• Economic Development: Julian Jacquin, Chair
• Communications: Gabi Rae, Co-Chair, Ashley Burger (alternate)
• Town Management: Patrick Hammer
• Administration: Meredyth Muth, Danielle Trujillo (alternate)
• Environmental and Sustainability: Eryka Thorley, David Frank (alternate)
• Parks and Recreation: Luke Bolinger, Shane Greenburg (alternate)
• Planning and Development: Josh Campbell, Deborah Bachelder (alternate)
• Police Department: Lee Mathis
• Public Works and Transportation: John Firouzi, Miguel Aguilar (alternate)
Legislative Calendar
The State of Colorado Legislature meets each year from January through May and occasionally in Special Sessions as called by the Governor.
• 2026 Legislative Agenda Creation Recap
o August-September: Internal data collection with staff on legislative priorities.
o September-October: Council asked to provide edits to the drafted Legislative Agenda document.
o Mid-December: Final 2026 Legislative Agenda presented to Council for approval.
• 2026 Legislative Session
o Jan. 13, 2026 - May 11, 2026
priorities
attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation
2. 2026 Legislative Agenda
3. 2026 Legislative Agenda - Redline