March 18, 2026
In addition to its grantmaking to policy nonprofits, Rose Community Foundation also aims to create positive community impact by advocating for legislation that improves systems and the lives of people living in Greater Denver and beyond. During the 2026 legislative session, the Foundation is actively supporting six policies that would enhance civic infrastructure and public health by specifically bolstering local news media, promoting immunization access, mitigating firearm violence, protecting young people from artificial intelligence risks, and strengthening the overall nonprofit ecosystem.
We advocate alongside our nonprofit partners driving meaningful, mission-aligned policy change at the Colorado State Capitol. Our 2026 state legislative endorsements are listed below.
SB26-032 | Promoting Immunization Access
Recent shifts in federal vaccine guidance and the childhood vaccine schedule have created uncertainty both for Colorado families and health care providers. There is a lack of clarity on which guidelines to follow, how doctors should advise patients and how to ensure continued access to safe, evidence-based vaccines.
SB26-032 would allow Colorado practitioners to follow expanded sources of established vaccine guidelines from public health organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, ensuring vaccine recommendations in Colorado remain based on evidence-based guidelines. The bill does not create any new vaccine requirements and does not change any existing medical or non-medical vaccine exemption policies; it simply focuses on maintaining clear, science-based guidance and continuity in vaccine access.
HB26-1263 | Protecting Users from Conversational AI Risks
While artificial intelligence (AI) has many potential benefits, unregulated chatbots can pose mental health risks for users, especially minors and people experiencing mental health challenges. Because responses from conversational AI systems can appear empathetic, supportive or in agreement with users, some people may begin to treat the system as if it were a real person and develop emotional or social attachments.
In some cases, these dynamics have been linked to serious harm. There have been documented instances of “AI-induced psychosis,” with reports connecting chatbot interactions to several suicides and at least one homicide in the past year.
This bill aims to reduce these risks by establishing basic safety standards for companies that operate conversational AI systems in Colorado, with additional protections for minors. These include:
- Clear disclosure that users are interacting with AI.
- Safety protocols when users express suicidal thoughts or self-harm, such as directing them to appropriate crisis services.
- Additional reminders for minors that they are interacting with AI.
- Restrictions preventing chatbots from presenting themselves as human.
- User privacy and control tools, such as the ability to decide whether a chatbot can retain information from past conversations or use those conversations to train the system.
Together, these measures aim to increase transparency, create new safeguards and reduce potential mental health harms associated with conversational AI.
HB26-1144| Prohibiting 3D Printing to Manufacture Firearms
3D printing technology enables individuals to print all or key parts of a functional firearm at home. These weapons lack serial numbers, making them impossible for law enforcement to register or trace.
HB26-1144 would close remaining gaps in Colorado law by prohibiting the 3D printing of unfinished frames and receivers that can be converted into functional firearms. The bill would also clarify that high-capacity magazines and rapid-fire devices — already illegal to possess in Colorado — are likewise prohibited from being produced using 3D-printing technology.
HB26-1274 | Allowing Upfront State Payments to Nonprofits
Nonprofits are essential partners in serving communities across Colorado, with many working alongside state agencies to deliver critical programs and services to state residents. However, Colorado’s current state grantmaking system is largely reimbursement-based, meaning nonprofits must first complete the work and cover the associated costs before they can be reimbursed.
For many organizations, this structure creates a significant financial barrier to serving Colorado communities. Fronting project costs can strain cash flow, particularly for smaller nonprofits with limited reserves. As a result, some organizations are unable, or unwilling, to pursue state grants, even when they are well-positioned to provide needed services.
This bill would allow Colorado state agencies to offer partial advance payments to grant recipients. Specifically, it would permit agencies to provide up to 25 percent of the total grant amount at the time a contract is executed or renewed. The bill does not require agencies to issue advance payments but gives them the option to do so. By offering greater flexibility in how grants are administered, the bill would help more nonprofits participate in state partnerships and strengthen the delivery of services to communities across Colorado.
SB26-118 | Improving Legacy Giving for Nonprofits
Gifts that people leave to nonprofits in their wills and estate planning are important funding sources for Colorado communities and the nonprofits that serve them. However, there are currently no federal or state laws governing how or when financial institutions must transfer funds to charitable beneficiaries, and some institutions now require the charitable beneficiary to open an account with them before releasing gifted funds rather than transferring the money directly.
This bill would establish a process and timeline for transferring property between financial institutions and nonprofits. Nonprofits would no longer be required to open an account with the financial institution or provide employees’ personal information in order to receive the funds donors have already designated to them in the form of a legacy gift. Additionally, financial institutions would be required to transfer funds within 60 days of the nonprofit submitting the appropriate paperwork.
By requiring timely, efficient transfers from financial institutions to charitable beneficiaries, donated funds could be deployed into the community sooner, while reducing administrative burdens for nonprofit staff.
Local Media Funding Budget Request
A strong local news ecosystem is essential to an informed community. However, newsrooms across Colorado are facing increasing financial challenges. Since 2019, 33 local newspapers have closed, reducing access to reliable local information for many communities. Despite these losses, Colorado currently does not provide any ongoing state funding to support local news.
The Local News Policy Coalition is advocating to direct a portion of state government advertising spending to local news outlets, rather than to, say, Facebook or YouTube. By reallocating existing advertising funds toward Colorado-based media outlets, this approach would provide support for local news without requiring new state spending.