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.
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1:21:50
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1:21:50
Appropriate Timing: End of Shutdown Leads to Government Funding Questions
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.
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13:42
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13:42
Oversight on Overdrive: Congressional Investigations in the Second Trump Term
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.
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23:28
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23:28
House Rules: Density, Demand and the Future of Master-Planned Communities in Colorado
Colorado is rolling up its sleeves to try to solve the home attainability challenge and master-planned communities will be at the forefront. In this episode, Brownstein’s Greg Vallin sits down with well-known real estate brokers Mike Kboudi and John Covert, both from Cushman and Wakefield, to dive into the forces shaping residential development across the Front Range.
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36:05
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36:05
I Have a Permit: Project Approval Changes in the Second Trump Administration
Permitting has long been a concern of those in the energy extraction and production sectors. Long review periods drive up the costs and delay profits in both the renewable and fossil fuel industries. Today our team discusses the history of both parties’ efforts to fix this process, options that have been proposed by the current Congress and administration, and what to watch leading up to 2026.
USA