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
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Subject:
title
1:15 PM *2027 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 principles developed by the legislative team for the 2027 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. The Board of County Commissioners adopts legislative priorities and principles on an annual basis 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.
Arapahoe County contracts with Bowditch and Cassell Public Affairs for state advocacy activities and Holland & Knight 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.
As a follow-up to the July 14, 2026, study session, the internal legislative team developed the attached legislative priorities and principles document, which include specific state and federal priorities for advocacy efforts. Minor updates also are proposed to the human services and workforce development guiding principles to align with specific priorities. Staff also drafted a distinct energy principle (removed from environment) for review.
The red text denotes new or modified language for Board consideration, feedback, and approval. Based on the outcomes of the study session, staff will then prepare the document for formal approval at an upcoming business meeting on the consent agenda.
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: The internal legislative team, comprised of community resources, public health, human services, and county attorney’s office, concurs with advancing these proposals for Board approval.