[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6114564,"mediaKeyId","2742992-c4749c29e9f48cb1608155eaefba370c","parentId",2742992,"title","Proponents say new Colorado initiative would prohibit bans on natural gas and bar cross‑subsidized electric‑heating incentives","audioSeconds",232,"startMs",944000,"endMs",1176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742992-c4749c29e9f48cb1608155eaefba370c&start=944&end=1176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742992-c4749c29e9f48cb1608155eaefba370c/thumbnail_944000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114564/Colorado/Proponents-say-new-Colorado-initiative-would-prohibit-bans-on-natural-gas-and-bar-crosssubsidized-electricheating-incentives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114564-32f97a4957211f7fc07631be2cf0f866/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449471&Signature=HuJQ-~ADgWRaVTQLU-WhIs3rkmCxXIoxhWXYiraKEBpnJAememQTRCaP2UliQ4Ad~0Vc~Z4tQSLGMq2-gsIyLjpYFMn5hEVteZNoU27Sg3Ahy2TJp1ObuFsJko4DIV8CspTCbT4TWI6McsKST2O08aCEPmdyIka0YnVRcBFArgS~zgrluZgFVZqdXx8Xl2dUvz08NLaqyiX3dUiEep-eI1eyoIlRp77DI3sf-laxngHdXmcfLh0--EHwJko--dft~IIs3jQlxJ0NCv7ezXC2HInJIwLypJTU~8v14U8yprgP-Lc9e0rtMHXVRs0W9yurCxmbsID9LS7c9V8afkuN2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado Legislature","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","Proponents of a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment aimed at protecting the use of natural gas and limiting government‑sponsored incentives for electric heating discussed the measure’s purpose and several drafting points during a March 19, 2025 technical review with Office of Legislative Legal Services and Colorado Legislative Council staff.

Meeting materials identify the measure as a proposed initiative concerning prohibiting electric heating incentives and government bans on natural gas. Proponents described two principal purposes: 1) to prohibit state and local governments from banning the use of natural gas as an energy source for cooking or heating any residence or business and 2) to prohibit state or local governmental entities from requiring that one utility customer subsidize another customer’s purchase or use of an electric heat pump or other electric heating device.

Office of Legislative Legal Services staff again asked whether the initiative meets the constitutional single‑subject requirement (Article V, section 1, subsection 5.5). The designated representative answered that the single subject is “consumer choice of affordable natural [gas],” and accepted the default effective date under the Colorado Constitution when staff read Article V, section 1(4)(a).

Staff posed questions about whether discounts or incentives tied to purchasing electric heat pumps or other electric heating devices would violate the initiative if those incentives increased other customers’ utility rates. The designated representative said such incentives could violate the provision “potentially, if it causes other people's rates to go up.” On tax credits, the proponent said a state tax credit that does not raise other customers’ utility bills would not necessarily violate subsection 2 of the draft.

Staff also suggested removing a redundant phrase in subsection 1 — the second instance of “any residence or business” — to improve clarity; proponents said they would consider that edit. No formal vote or final drafting decision was recorded at the meeting; staff framed the discussion as technical comments and requested incorporation of clarifications into a revised draft.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Review and Comment Hearing for Initiative #44, 45, 46 [Mar 21, 2025] 1:01 PM - 1:24 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Proponents of a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment aimed at protecting natural gas use and limiting government subsidies for electric heating discussed the measure’s purposes and drafting questions during a March 19, 2025 review with legislative legal staff.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CO, Colorado","taxId",77676,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114570,"Proponents clarify wording in Colorado ballot initiative to bar government bans based on energy source",462,469000,931000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742992-c4749c29e9f48cb1608155eaefba370c&start=469&end=931","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742992-c4749c29e9f48cb1608155eaefba370c/thumbnail_469000.jpg","/articles/6114570/Colorado/Proponents-clarify-wording-in-Colorado-ballot-initiative-to-bar-government-bans-based-on-energy-source","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114570-f1b9cbe2a5e82a676f0441f548108820/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449471&Signature=URSXdxUDU1v-rfSa~AZTzoS2WAjoYh7DRo6gwg5iwG1rtEef3~wWFXMJOdBbz8xKSGn88SYIXU5xbbsSNxfPSJ0zAs9lduRpWjbP3HfIHOMVR32FVlhjdFpgXfs4UpJJSR1kKiv-Jo~pjdbnscG2A6EO8r4R5dVbTyIVLOuVFTQioN~quCOhXQvLPRsF2hJrcCEfI8qJP2xvsRDrLYHGubcrR-cAfka3GJPwE78XLWZnKfJS7YXcb3Itz-SW8FsSanMswX9H-TSjKZA4jRBu-QaGLCUvO6s3HOGn0GdB98xp5uKLdkSxEgjh~WlJL6GkoQ~Jh5w5ViX9SwJlTc7g~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Proponents of a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment that would bar state and local governments from banning or restricting products or energy service connections based on the energy source clarified several drafting points during a March 19, 2025 review meeting with the Office of Legislative Legal Services and Colorado Legislative Council staff.

The initiative, identified in meeting materials as a proposed initiative measure concerning prohibiting government bans on energy source and dated March 19, 2025, would prevent governments from banning or restricting “products powered by an energy supply in common use based on the energy source that powers or fuels that product or service connection,” as the proponents explained in response to technical questions from staff.

Office of Legislative Legal Services staff opened the session by reading constitutional requirements and procedural context, including a reminder that “Article V, section 1(4)(a) of the Colorado Constitution requires that when a majority of voters approve an initiative, the initiative is effective on and after the date of the official declaration of the vote and proclamation of the governor,” and asked whether the proponents accepted the default effective date when no date is specified in the measure. The designated representative answered, “Yes.”

Staff also flagged a typographical and drafting issue in proposed subsection language that made it unclear whether the drafters intended to protect both products and energy service connections. The designated representative said the campaign would add the word “service connection” (so the clause would read “products or service connections”) and strike the redundant use of “services.”

On terminology, staff asked whether phrases such as “energy supply,” “energy source,” and “energy service connection” had distinct meanings in the draft. The proponents told staff the list of named fuels (for example, gas, propane, solar) was intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive and agreed to make the terminology consistent across the draft (changing instances to “energy source” or “sourced” where appropriate).

Staff asked whether governments would still be able to ban or restrict products or service connections for health or safety reasons. The designated representative said proponents planned to add language clarifying that restrictions consistent with the International Building Code or enacted during public‑safety emergencies (\"such as a fire or natural disaster\") would be permitted. As the proponent put it, “we're going to add some language that clarifies that, it'll be restrictions under the International Building Code or in case of a public safety emergency, such as a fire or natural disaster.”

Office of Legislative Legal Services staff also raised the single‑subject rule under Article V, section 1, subsection 5.5 of the Colorado Constitution and asked the proponents to identify the initiative’s single subject; the proponent responded that the single subject is “energy choice.”

No formal vote or final drafting decision was recorded at the meeting; staff and proponents indicated further technical revisions would be incorporated and referenced earlier memoranda dated February 26 and March 19, 2025. The session then moved to review a second proposed initiative concerning natural gas and electric heating incentives.","At a March 19, 2025 review meeting, proponents of a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment (initiative measure concerning bans on energy sources) agreed to wording changes and confirmed the default effective date; Office of Legislative Legal Services raised single‑subject and drafting questions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Proponents say new Colorado initiative would prohibit bans on natural gas and bar cross‑subsidized electric‑heating incentives

Proponents clarify wording in Colorado ballot initiative to bar government bans based on energy source