The conversation around colorado affordability 2026 is not abstract for families in Brighton, Adams County, or Weld County. It shows up in a property tax bill that jumped hundreds of dollars in a single year. It shows up at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and in a health insurance premium that keeps climbing while the coverage gets thinner. For constituents across Senate District 13, these are not policy talking points. They are kitchen table conversations happening right now.
This post lays out exactly where the affordability pressure is coming from, what Senator Scott Bright is doing about it in the Colorado Senate, and what you can do as a constituent to make your voice part of the solution.
The Affordability Gap Is Real - and It Is Getting Worse for District 13 Families
Property Taxes: A Burden That Was Made Worse by Legislation
In 2020, Colorado lawmakers repealed the Gallagher Amendment, which had historically kept residential property tax rates in check by balancing them against commercial property valuations. The repeal was framed as a simplification of the tax code. The result for homeowners has been anything but simple.
According to the Common Sense Institute, Colorado homeowners faced a potential 25 percent increase in property taxes in 2024. In Adams and Weld Counties, where home values have risen sharply over the past four years, that translates to a significant and sudden increase in what families owe each year just to stay in the homes they already own.
For renters, the effect is indirect but just as real. When a landlord's property tax bill goes up, that cost gets passed through to rent. Rising property taxes are one of the underreported drivers of Brighton's rental affordability problem.
Senator Bright has made property tax relief a top legislative priority. His position is straightforward: the repeal of Gallagher placed an unfair and unlegislated burden on homeowners, and the Senate has an obligation to correct it.
TABOR: Protecting Your Right to Vote on Tax Increases
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, known as TABOR, is one of the strongest taxpayer protections in the country. It requires voter approval before the government can raise taxes. It also mandates that excess government revenue be refunded to taxpayers rather than absorbed into the general fund.
In recent sessions, there have been repeated legislative efforts to characterize new revenue sources as "fees" rather than taxes, effectively bypassing the TABOR requirement for a public vote. Senator Bright has consistently opposed these efforts. His view is that the voters of Colorado, not the legislature, should decide when and whether taxes go up.
Defending TABOR is not a procedural stance. For District 13 families, it is a direct financial protection. TABOR refunds have returned real dollars to Colorado households. Raiding those refunds to fund increased government spending puts that money out of reach permanently.
Health Insurance: The Cost of a Government-Run Model
In 2021, the Colorado legislature passed the Colorado Option, a state-administered health insurance program intended to increase coverage and lower costs. The program's outcomes have moved in the opposite direction. Private insurers have begun exiting the Colorado market, reducing competition and driving premiums higher. Coloradans who relied on employer-sponsored or individual market plans have seen their options narrow and their costs rise.
Senator Bright supports a fundamentally different approach. Rather than government-managed insurance, he advocates for consumer-driven solutions that put patients and their doctors back at the center of healthcare decisions. That includes expanding health savings accounts, requiring price transparency from providers and insurers so patients can make informed decisions, making insurance portable so workers can carry their plan from one employer to the next, and reforming Medicaid in ways that give beneficiaries access to private market options.
These are not ideological preferences. They are practical reforms with documented track records in other states that have moved away from top-down insurance mandates.
The Bigger Picture: Cost of Living in Adams and Weld Counties
Brighton sits at the intersection of two counties experiencing some of the fastest population and cost growth in Colorado. Infrastructure demands, school enrollment pressures, and rising municipal service costs all contribute to the local affordability challenge. When state-level policy decisions — on property taxes, insurance, or energy regulation — compound those local pressures, the impact on District 13 households is amplified.
Tracking how state legislation interacts with local economic conditions is part of the work Senator Bright does year-round, not just during session. Constituents who want to follow that work can find updates through the Senator's news and media page.
What You Can Do Right Now
Affordability legislation moves through the Colorado Senate during session, but constituent pressure matters year-round. Here is how District 13 residents can stay engaged:
- Track active bills related to property tax, insurance reform, and TABOR at leg.colorado.gov.
- Use FastDemocracy to set up free email alerts when relevant bills are scheduled or amended.
- Contact Senator Bright's office directly to share how rising costs are affecting your household. Constituent stories are among the most effective tools in legislative advocacy.
- Attend a town hall or community meeting. Senator Bright holds regular constituent events in Brighton and across the district.
Supporting good jobs and economic growth in District 13 is closely tied to the affordability agenda. When wages rise and local businesses thrive, the cost burden on individual households becomes more manageable. Both conversations need to happen at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did property taxes go up so much in Colorado?
The 2020 repeal of the Gallagher Amendment removed a structural cap on residential property tax rates. As home values increased sharply across the state, including in Adams and Weld Counties, tax bills followed. Without the Gallagher framework in place, there is no automatic correction mechanism. Legislative intervention is now required to provide relief.
What is TABOR and why does it matter for Brighton residents?
TABOR, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, is a Colorado constitutional provision that requires voter approval before the state can raise taxes. It also requires the government to refund revenue collected above a set limit. For Brighton and District 13 residents, TABOR is a direct financial safeguard. When it is bypassed through fee reclassification or when refunds are redirected, taxpayers lose money they are constitutionally owed.
What went wrong with the Colorado Option health insurance program?
The Colorado Option was designed to increase coverage and reduce costs through a state-administered plan. In practice, it has contributed to private insurers leaving the Colorado market, which reduces competition and limits consumer choice. With fewer insurers competing for customers, premiums have risen and plan options have narrowed, particularly for individuals and small employers.
How can I contact Senator Bright about affordability issues in my area?
Senator Bright's office accepts constituent contacts through his official website. You can share your experience with rising property taxes, insurance costs, or housing expenses directly. Constituent input is taken seriously and shapes legislative priorities. Visit the contact page to reach the office directly.