To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners’ Office
Prepared By:
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Nico Johnson, Management Analyst, Commissioners’ Office
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presenter
Presenter: Nico Johnson, Management Analyst, Commissioners’ Office; Kathy Smith, Director, Community Resources; Bryan Weimer, Director, Public Works & Development; Jen Ludwig, Director, Public Health; Dan Makelky, Director, Human Services; Ron Carl, County Attorney, Attorney’s Office, Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners’ Office
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Subject:
title
3:00 PM *2026 Legislative Issues Guide: Legislative Priorities and Principles
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this meeting is to review and approve the state and federal legislative priorities and the legislative principles developed by the legislative team for the 2026 Legislative Issues Guide.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Proactively advocate for the County's needs in legislative solutions.
Background and Discussion: As a constitutional subdivision of Colorado state government, Arapahoe County can only exercise those powers specifically expressed in statute or in the constitution. Arapahoe County contracts with Bowditch and Cassell Public Affairs for state advocacy activities and Squire, Patton, Boggs for federal advocacy activities. The Director of the Commissioners’ Office coordinates federal and state intergovernmental relations, in partnership with the County’s legislative team, consisting of the Director of Human Services, the County Attorney, the Director of Community Resources, the Director of Public Works and Development, and the Director of Public Health.
On an annual basis, the Board of County Commissioners adopts legislative priorities and principles to guide federal and state advocacy work, evaluate policy positions through the lens of fiscal and operational impacts to Arapahoe County, and ensure consistency with its stated strategic plan and legal requirements. The legislative team has developed nine state priorities, six federal priorities, and maintained the sixteen guiding legislative principles from 2025 for the Board’s review and adoption. The comprehensive system of care and treatment for high acuity children priorities from 2025 were removed from the state items and incorporated into the Human Services principle. The priorities and principles are as follows:
State Items (Priority Order)
• Include adequate funding for staffing and administrative costs associated with statutorily required programs, reforms, and services that will be implemented at a county level.
• Include adequate funding for any legislation that is expected to be implemented at the local level.
• Maintain state and federal workforce funding and program oversight with local workforce regions (Arapahoe/Douglas Works!) and oppose redistribution to other partners.
• Acquire additional 18th Judicial District and County judgeships to manage increases caseloads and mandates.
• Support the overhaul of the Colorado Benefits Management System to ensure benefits and resources are administered in a timely manner.
• Confirm proposed changes to community corrections acceptance and placement criteria best meet the needs of our local community.
• Support access to diverse and healthy food options offered by small businesses, while prioritizing adherence to food safety options.
• Oppose legislation related to building infrastructure and permitting changes that would undermine local authority, create inconsistencies, undue costs, and process delays.
• Oppose the reduction or elimination of dedicated transportation funds in lieu of funding for other state programs.
Federal Items (Priority Order)
• Maintain funding for essential services that improve the economic strength of Arapahoe County, ensuring residents have access to resources and programming that catalyze and strengthen public safety, housing stability, family support, and public health.
• Retain critical infrastructure and associated funding for evidence-based programming proven to enhance Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response.
• Advocate for rules that clarify eligibility requirements for safety net programs and provide appropriate funding for mandated program administration.
• Advance congressionally directed spending requests for critical community projects that advance Arapahoe County’s vision and strategic plan goals.
• Champion policies that continue federal research of air and noise pollution caused by civilian and military aircraft, mitigate air and noise pollution, and enforce existing standards, rules, and regulations including enhancing opportunities for local control.
• Advocate for multi-year infrastructure reauthorization bills to secure funding for improvements to the county’s transportation network.
Guiding Legislative Priorities
• Collaboration & Partnership
• Elections
• Environment
• Homelessness
• Housing
• Human Services
• Justice & Public Safety
• Land Use
• Local Control & Flexibility
• Outcome-based Decision Making
• Public Health
• Revenue Predictability
• Sustainable & Consistent Federal Funding
• Transportation & Infrastructure
• Unfunded Mandates
• Workforce & Economic Development
Alternatives: N/A
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: The attached framework helps Arapahoe County institutionalize values-based, transparent decision-making, documenting how we make decisions and carry out actions to achieve the county’s strategic plan.
Staff Recommendation: N/A
Concurrence: Members of the legislative team will be in attendance to answer questions as needed.