Brownstein Podcast Series

The 2026 Colorado legislative session kicks off Jan. 14—with legacy-building, budget battles and big policy debates ahead. Tune in as Brownstein’s Sarah Mercer, Jia Meeks, Cooper Reveley and Sloane Whelan share expectations and answer larger questions about what’s at stake heading into 2026.

Welcome to the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck podcast series. Please listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin and Amy Diaz bring back Jennifer Blum to discuss the Minerals Notification Act.

With the recent off-year election in the rear view, eyes are now turning to the 2026 cycle. And in Colorado, that means sorting citizen-initiated measures that make the ballot next year. Colorado’s ballot measure process is one of the most direct and impactful tools for shaping state policy—and also one of the most complex. Join Brownstein’s David Meschke and Sarah Mercer as they walk through the constitutional and statutory framework and timeline governing statewide citizen initiatives and offer insights into recent trends, legal challenges and strategic considerations for drafting, advocating for or opposing ballot questions. They also cover key differences and considerations for county and municipal ballot measures, which play an increasingly important role in local governance.

It’s been a big week on Capitol Hill for congressional appropriators. To reopen the government, the Senate has passed a legislative package that includes multiple appropriations bills and a continuing resolution to fund all other parts of the government. As the bill now heads to the House, our team discusses the content of the legislation and what the government funding process looks like moving forward.

As the Republican-controlled Congress ramps up investigations into education, emerging technology, democratic fundraising, foreign influence and regulatory enforcement, new risks have arisen for industry members. Our team of oversight policy professionals dive into what this means for agencies, contractors and other stakeholders, and how things could change approaching the 2026 midterms.