2024 Initiative Filings

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The November 5, 2024 election promises to be the longest ballot in Colorado history.  There are over fifty ballot initiatives.  Two had signatures verified and on the ballot.  Twenty-four are out for petition circulation. Seventeen are in pending Supreme Court action. Sixteen have the title set but not yet approved for petition circulation.

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This does not include the referred questions from the state legislature or the City and County of Denver.

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The Denver Clerk and Recorder, Paul Lopez on May 2, 2024 estimated the ballot for Denver will be eight pages long.

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       List of Initiatives and their Status

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2024 Referred Ballot Measurers

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The Colorado legislature has placed the following measures on the November 5, 2024 election ballot.

 

Repeal of the state constitutional ban on same sex marriage.  SCR24-003

 

6.5% tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition.  HB24-1349

 

Deny the right to bail to those charged with first-degree murder when proof is evident (reverses a state Supreme Court decision).  HCR24-1002

 

Allow the state to keep $29 million in sports betting tax revenue that exceed the amount forecast in Proposition DD.  HB24-1349

 

Accelerate timelines for filing referendum petitions and publishing information about the measures, among other election calendar changes.  SCR24-002

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Denver Public Schools to submit $975 Million bond issue to voters - What is included in the ask?

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City and County of Denver

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Sales tax increase (0.34%) tax increase to support Denver Health.   

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Denver Health funding: If passed, the City of Denver sales and use tax would be increased by 0.34% to raise $70 million annually to support “certain services” of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority. “On average, Denver Health has absorbed approximately $100 million in each of the last two (2) years for uncompensated care being provided to Denver residents, and that figure is projected to rise to $124 million in 2025,” the measure detail reads. The tax would help cover those costs.

 

Half percent (0.5%) tax increase for affordable housing - pending city council approval.

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Affordable housing funding: The measure would, if passed, increase the local sales tax rate by 0.5% to fund affordable housing and related housing support services citywide. The aim is to generate $100 million from the tax increase annually. Funds could be used for a variety of activities related to “affordable housing”, including administrative costs.

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Collective bargaining: Would expand collective bargaining as the means for setting compensation and other terms of employment, including some benefits, for non-supervisory City of Denver employees. The measure would result in almost all employees, including City Council, having collective bargaining rights.

 

Department of Human Rights: The measure would elevate the Department of Human Rights to a charter agency and add its executive director to the mayor’s cabinet, giving it more influence and autonomy.

 

Downtown Denver Development Authority: The measure asks to take on $570 million in debt with a total repayment not to exceed $847 million for use by the Downtown Denver Development Authority. The purpose of the funding would be to finance costs of public facility and other improvements, infrastructure, and improvements to public or private property.

 

Firefighters collective bargaining: The charter would be amended, if passed, to allow for binding arbitration for firefighters when an impasse occurs during collective bargaining.

 

Fur ban: Would ban the display, distribution, manufacture, and sale or trade of “certain” animal fur products. Animals slaughtered for their fur “endure tremendous suffering” and the “demand for fur products does not justify the unnecessary killing and cruel treatment of animals”, the ballot item reads. This item was put forward by the same residents as the slaughterhouse ban.

 

Removing citizenship requirement for police and firefighters: If passed, firefighters and police officers would not be required to be U.S. citizens in order to serve in the City of Denver.

 

Salaries of elected officials: Would remove the requirement from the city charter that elected official salaries must be voted on every four years and to set salary structuring by ordinance. Future adjustments would be the lesser of either the CPI increase in the Denver Metro area or the cumulative percentage change for Career Service Denver employees.

 

Slaughterhouse ban: Would prohibit slaughterhouses in the city limits and beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the construction, maintenance or use of existing slaughterhouses. The ballot item terms slaughterhouses “nuisances” and cites their “foul odors” and “unsightly industrial facades”. The item also cites “climate change” as a reason to abandon slaughterhouses.

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RTD (Regional Transportation District) asking to be removed from TABOR limits. The request was unanimously approved by the RTD Board on June25, 2024  More Information

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