Advance Colorado Action submits signatures for three ballot initiatives addressing property taxes, parole eligibility, and a constitutional right to school choice

Advance Colorado Action, an issue advocacy organization that describes its mission as “supporting policies that increase economic opportunity and greater government transparency,” submitted signatures for three ballot initiatives for the November general election ballot. Nearly 200,000 signatures were submitted for each initiative. To qualify for the ballot, each initiative must receive 124,238 valid signatures.

The three ballot initiatives are Initiative 108, Initiative 112, and Initiative 138.

Initiative 108 would change the definition of residential real property to include multifamily residential properties (but excluding hotels and motels), as well as residential land and improvements. This change would revert changes made by Senate Bill 238, passed by the Colorado State Legislature in 2023, which made multifamily residential property a subclass of residential real property with a different valuation rate (6.8% for 2024). The initiative would set the valuation for assessment of residential property (including multifamily property) to 5.7%. The rate for non-residential property would be reduced from 29% to 24% of the actual value for all taxable property except for residential real property producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas.

Initiative 112, referred to as the Truth in Sentencing Initiative by sponsors, would change the requirements for individuals convicted of certain violent crimes to apply for parole.

Currently, in Colorado, if someone is convicted of a violent crime, such as second-degree murder, first-degree assault, or aggravated robbery, they can apply for parole after serving 75% of their sentence. This calculation excludes any time they might have earned off their sentence for good behavior.

The initiative would change the law to require such individuals to serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole, including any earned time. Persons with a previous conviction of a violent crime would have to serve the full sentence before being eligible for parole.

Initiative 138 would add a sentence to the state constitution that says, “Each K-12 child has the right to school choice.” The amendment would state that “all children have the right to equal opportunity to access a quality education” and that “parents have the right to direct the education of their children.” Under the amendment, school choice would include neighborhood schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschools, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education.

Another initiative concerning property taxes, also supported by Advance Colorado Action, has already been certified for the 2024 ballot. The initiative would limit property tax revenue from increasing beyond 4% growth from the total statewide property tax revenue collected in the previous year. Statewide voter approval would be required to retain property tax revenue above the cap.

Advance Colorado Action is expected to submit signatures for an additional initiative concerning funding for police officers by the Aug. 5 deadline.

Ten other initiatives filed by other groups or individuals have been cleared to collect signatures. To qualify for the ballot, sponsors must submit 124,238 valid signatures by Aug. 5.