John TytusColorado 2026 ballot

Amendment 85: Plain-language ballot titles

Constitutional amendment, citizen initiative. Needs 55% to pass.

What it does

Requires every state and local ballot title to be written in plain language at no higher than an eighth-grade reading level. It also bars any state law from requiring extra wording in citizen-initiative titles if that wording interferes with the plain-language rule. Titles for measures referred by the legislature are not covered by that bar. The measure doesn't define plain language or say who judges compliance. Current law already requires plain-language titles but sets no grade level, and some current laws require specific wording, for example the tax-impact language that must appear in titles of citizen initiatives that raise or lower state taxes.

On that last point: a 2021 law (HB21-1321) requires the title of a citizen initiative that cuts state taxes to state the estimated first-year revenue loss and the three largest areas of state program spending. The Blue Book (p. 28) notes this requirement.

Blue Book arguments

For: An eighth-grade standard gives concrete guidance and helps voters understand titles; it protects citizen initiatives from future legislatures adding laws that make titles confusing.

Against: Current law already requires plain language, and a new undefined constitutional standard invites more title challenges that could affect the initiative process; its vague wording could block laws that add useful information, such as fiscal effects, to titles.

What it costs

Minimal. Some added Title Board workload.

Who is paying

Money as of the Sept 21, 2026 filing. No committee on either side is dedicated to 85 alone.

For

Committee Raised Spent
A Brighter Colorado (eight measures) $306,625 $35,489

$250,000 from Common Sense America (McLean VA, donors undisclosed), $25,000 Rado Capital, $20,000 Advance Colorado. The measure's designated representatives are Suzanne Taheri and Michael Fields of Advance Colorado.

Against

Committee Raised Spent
Vote Common Sense (nine measures) $495,000 $81,367

$200,000 from Green Advocacy Project (Washington DC), $100,000 Merle Chambers, $50,000 Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition Action Fund, $50,000 Coloradans for Real Safety Solutions.

Where the parties stand

Democrats: the Colorado Democratic Party opposes Amendment 85, a position its State Central Committee took and announced in a party press release on Sept 8, 2026.

Republicans: no position from the Colorado Republican Party found as of Sept 30, 2026. The Weld County Republican Party, a county party, recommends a yes vote (its Resolution WCRCC-2026-09, adopted Sept 15, 2026).

No minor-party position found as of Sept 30, 2026.

What isn't known

Who funds Common Sense America. How much, if any, of either committee's money goes to Amendment 85 rather than its other measures.

Sources