Co state senator - cathy kipp

CO State Senator - Cathy Kipp

Party: Democrat | District: Senate District 14 (Fort Collins)

2026-05-15

President Pro Tempore: In February 2026, Senate Democrats elected Kipp as President Pro Tempore, replacing Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet who resigned.
Transportation bill: Kipp introduced transportation-related legislation that was voted down in the Senate Transportation and Energy committee. She stated she intends to reintroduce it next session.
Tax code decoupling: Kipp is working on legislation to de-couple Colorado's tax code from four business tax breaks created or expanded by the federal H.R. 1 bill, including write-offs and deductions for interest expenses on debt for multinational corporations.
2026 legislative session: Fort Collins legislators including Kipp broke down top priorities for the 2026 General Assembly in February, and the legislature is now in its final days with hundreds of bills still unresolved as of early May.

Sources:
- Senator Cathy Kipp — Colorado General Assembly
- Cathy Kipp — Colorado Senate Democrats

2026-05-17

Data center bill (SB 26-102) fails: Kipp's major data center regulation bill — which would have required data centers to source up to 100% of their electricity from renewables and imposed utility and community protections — failed in the final days of the 2026 legislative session (session ended May 13). In a last-ditch effort Kipp rewrote the bill to add tax incentives for data centers, but it still could not win enough votes. She requested the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee vote to postpone it indefinitely; the committee did so unanimously. Kipp stated the effort will return next session.

Sources:
- Both Colorado data center bills rejected — Westword
- Both Colorado data center bills rejected — Colorado Newsline
- Colorado lawmakers reject data center regulations — Colorado Sun
- Colorado lawmakers reject environmentalist-backed data center effort — CPR News

2026-05-17

Post-session town hall: Co-hosted a legislative wrap-up event at the Fort Collins Old Town Library (3–4:30 p.m.) with Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, Sen. Janice Marchman, Rep. Yara Zokaie, and Rep. Lesley Smith, recapping the 2026 session, which adjourned May 13.

Sources:
- Fort Collins-area lawmakers wrap up session with town hall — Yahoo/AOL News

2026-05-24

SB 107 (CORA reform) killed: Kipp's Colorado Open Records Act reform bill — co-sponsored with Sen. Janice Rich — was shot down in committee amid concerns it could prevent transparency and infringe on citizens' right to information. This is Kipp's second consecutive year attempting CORA reform; a similar bill in 2025 was vetoed by Gov. Polis.
HB 1222 (tax decoupling) also killed: Kipp co-sponsored legislation to decouple Colorado's income tax code from certain federal tax provisions in the reconciliation bill. She asked the Senate Finance Committee to kill it, stating: "It is clear that this bill will be vetoed unless we agree to reducing the state income tax, something that I believe is irresponsible."
Session reflection: With three of her major bills dead — SB 102 (data centers), SB 107 (CORA), and HB 1222 (tax code) — Kipp reflected: "This was a rough session. A lot of bills died."

Sources:
- What didn't pass: Colorado bills that died in the 2026 legislative session — Colorado Politics
- The 6 biggest themes of Colorado's 2026 legislative session — Colorado Sun

2026-06-05

Balcony solar law signed: Kipp's bipartisan legislation (co-led with Rep. Matt Ball) making plug-in balcony solar devices easier and cheaper for renters and apartment dwellers was signed into law. The bill requires utilities to accept meter-collar solar connections — a win for housing affordability and clean energy access for Coloradans who cannot install traditional rooftop solar.
Post-session interim: Session adjourned May 13. No current active legislation. Kipp has signaled intent to reintroduce data center regulation (SB 102) and CORA reform (SB 107) in the next session. Most 2026 legislation takes effect August 12, 2026.

Sources:
- Colorado approves balcony solar, requires utilities to accept meter collar — Solar Power World

2026-06-13

2026 session postmortem: Kipp described the 2026 legislative session as "a rough session" where "a lot of bills died" — including in a Democratic supermajority. Two notable losses:
- SB 102 (data center regulation): Kipp's bill requiring large-load data centers to secure 100% renewable energy matching by 2031 and cover infrastructure costs died after industry groups couldn't reach consensus. Kipp has signaled intent to reintroduce in the next session.
- HB 1222 (income tax decoupling): Co-sponsored with Reps. Garcia and McCormick to decouple Colorado's income tax code from certain federal provisions. Kipp asked the Senate Finance Committee to kill the bill herself due to veto concerns from the governor's office.
Next session: Most 2026 legislation (including balcony solar and HB 1430) takes effect August 12, 2026. Legislative interim committees are underway.

Sources:
- What didn't pass: Colorado bills that died in the 2026 session — Colorado Springs Gazette
- 3 themes from the 2026 legislative session in Colorado — Axios Denver

2026-06-14

2026 Democratic Primary Ballot Guide published: Kipp published her voter guide for contested races on the Democratic primary ballot in Fort Collins. The guide includes her analysis and links to debates and issue guides for the contested primaries: Governor (Bennet vs. Weiser), U.S. Senate (Hickenlooper vs. Gonzales), and CO-2 (Neguse vs. Mason). She does not appear to have made explicit endorsements but provides resources for voters to evaluate candidates. Ballots due 7 PM June 30 — return by mail (postmark by June 22) or any drop box.

Sources:
- Cathy's 2026 Democratic Primary Election Ballot Guide — cathykipp.com

2026-06-17

Gun law (HB26-1126) facing federal lawsuit: Kipp co-sponsored HB26-1126, the firearm purchase record requirements bill signed by Governor Polis on June 2. The law expands record-keeping to all firearms transactions, closes a loophole that allowed some dealers to characterize sales as "transfers" to avoid permitting requirements, and strengthens after-hours security standards for gun stores. On June 15, the Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA) filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block enforcement. CSSA's attorney argues the law violates the Fourth Amendment because it allows a broad array of government employees to access purchase records containing customer information "without a warrant, without probable cause, without giving any reason." Kipp described the bill as "a targeted, practical regulatory update." A federal court will now decide whether to issue an injunction while the case proceeds.

Sources:
- Colorado gun rights group files federal lawsuit over firearm records law — KDVR
- Colorado gun group to sue over new firearm purchase record law — Sentinel Colorado
- Lawsuit filed over rules aimed at Colorado gun dealer records — Complete Colorado

2026-08-06

HB26-1126 takes effect Aug. 12 — no injunction reported. Kipp's firearm-dealer records law (signed June 2; expands record-keeping to all firearm sales, adds security/storage requirements, allows peace-officer access to purchase records) becomes effective Aug. 12, 2026 — the default date for 2026 bills without a safety clause. As of this run, no court has blocked it: the Colorado State Shooting Association's federal challenge (2nd/4th Amendment) is still pending with no injunction or ruling surfaced. Legislature remains in interim (session adjourned May 13); no other new Kipp news this window.

Sources:
- HB26-1126 Requirements for Firearms Dealers — Colorado General Assembly
- Colorado State Shooting Association files constitutional challenge to firearms dealer law — Colorado Politics

2026-08-12

HB26-1126 is in effect as of today. No court blocked it. The Colorado State Shooting Association's federal preliminary-injunction motion is still pending with no ruling reported, so the law took effect on the default schedule for 2026 bills without a safety clause.
What applies now to Colorado gun dealers: record-keeping on all firearm purchases (buyer name, age, address) rather than just handguns; dual federal + state licensing; secure storage for large-capacity magazines; security features on doors and windows plus an alarm system with video surveillance covering every door and every area where firearms are kept; dealer training; set timelines for reporting lost and stolen firearms. The Department of Revenue may access FFL transaction records and may fine dealers up to $100,000 for second and subsequent violations of certain requirements.
The suit's core claim — peace-officer access to purchase records without a warrant or probable cause — remains live and could still produce an injunction after the effective date.

Sources:
- HB26-1126 Requirements for Firearms Dealers — Colorado General Assembly
- Colorado gun rights group files federal lawsuit over firearm records law — KDVR
- State Shooting Association sues over new information requirements for gun purchases — KKTV

2026-08-22

Bringing data center legislation back in 2027. Kipp and Rep. Kyle Brown (D) plan to reintroduce data center regulation next session after SB26-102 — the Measure to Ensure Accountability for Large-Load Data Centers — died in the final days of the 2026 session. Kipp pulled her own bill, saying time had run out on months of talks about whether regulation could be combined with an incentive package. Both data center bills of the 2026 session failed.
SB26-102 as introduced would have required developers to use and develop renewable energy, pay the full cost of their electricity and any grid investments they trigger, and meet water consumption standards.
On the local moratoriums: "The pushback against data centers is only growing right now." Larimer, Boulder, Broomfield, Woodland Park, Monument and Longmont have all acted where the state didn't — Longmont capping data center energy use at 5% of the regional grid, or 100 MW.
Surfaced from Aug 10 statewide coverage; first Kipp item since the session adjourned May 13. Legislature remains in interim. Directly relevant to the Larimer County moratorium and the Fort Collins Aug 25 work session data center item.

Sources:
- Local governments in Colorado enact moratoriums on data center development — Colorado Newsline (Aug 10, 2026)
- Same article via KUNC
- Both Colorado data center bills rejected in final days of 2026 legislative session — Westword
- Death of second data-center bill ends all talk of incentives or safeguards — The Sum and Substance
- Legislation Introduced to Ensure Common-Sense Guardrails on Data Centers in Colorado — Earthjustice

2026-08-24

Data Center Bills Expected in the 2027 Session

Fort Collins staff, in the Aug 25 work session materials, write that data center bills are likely to be introduced in the 2027 state legislative session, and that they want a local framework in place first to guide the city's response. They note 2026's proposals "ranged from incentivizing to banning."

Sharpening a detail this log had loose: Longmont's June 9, 2026 ordinance bans hyperscale data centers as an allowed land use — defined as 100 MW or 5% of Platte River Power Authority nameplate capacity, whichever is lower, at initial operation or through phased expansion. Previously logged here as a "cap." It also creates use-specific standards for smaller light-industrial facilities in Primary Employment zones only, covering power usage effectiveness, water consumption held to already-allocated water rights, cooling, noise, and lighting.

PRPA's Large Load Policy defines large load as more than 10 MW and requires those loads to "pay their own way."

Nothing else new for Kipp. No ruling yet on the CSSA challenge to HB26-1126, in force since Aug 12.

Sources:
- Aug 25 Fort Collins work session packet (PDF)

2026-08-30

First Complaint Ever Filed Under Colorado's Deepfake Disclosure Law

Kipp filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State on Aug 5 against the Independence Institute over an AI-generated video of her posted to the group's social media accounts. The video depicts her as a grocery store clerk who keeps a customer's change, saying it goes to educating children.

It is the first complaint filed within the statutory timeframe required for consideration under the 2024 deepfake disclosure law — per Jack Todd, spokesperson for the Secretary of State's office. The Secretary of State will investigate.

What the law requires. HB24-1147 covers deepfake depictions of candidates within 90 days of a general election. Disclosure must appear as text about the same size as any other text in the content, and information about the AI tool used must be in the video or photo's metadata. Kipp's complaint states the video carries no disclosure at all.

Kipp is Senate President Pro Tempore. The 90-day window before the Nov 3 general opened in early August, which is what brings the video inside the law's reach.

Caught up late. This broke Aug 24 and was missed in the Aug 27–29 runs, which logged Kipp as quiet. No penalty, hearing date, or Independence Institute response was found in the coverage.

Sources:
- Colorado Sen. Cathy Kipp submits first complaint under state's deepfake disclosure law — Colorado Newsline (Aug 24, 2026)
- Same story via Kiowa County Press
- Colorado state lawmaker files complaint over a deepfake video with secretary of state's office — CBS Colorado
- Colorado investigates potential deepfake law violation in election video — Sentinel Colorado
- State Senator Tests Colorado's 'Deepfake Disclosure' Law — Pagosa Daily Post (Aug 25, 2026)

2026-08-31

The Deepfake Was About Proposition NN — Which Is On Your November Ballot

The missing piece from yesterday's entry. The Independence Institute made the video to counter Kipp's floor remarks defending Proposition NN. That reframes the complaint from a personal attack on a legislator into the opening skirmish of a statewide ballot fight Aaron votes on Nov 3.

Proposition NN would permanently raise the TABOR revenue and spending limit by an amount equal to the state's annual K-12 education spending — currently about $4.6 billion — letting the state retain that much in surplus rather than refund it. It also mandates up to 2% annual increases in K-12 funding for 10 years, funded from the retained surplus, and covers homestead property tax exemption reimbursements.

It reached the ballot on party lines: Senate 23-12, House 42-21, Democratic support only. Kipp, as Senate President Pro Tempore and a former PSD board member, spoke for it on the floor. The video's premise — a clerk pocketing a customer's change and saying it's for educating children — is a direct caricature of that argument.

Why this matters locally beyond the complaint. PSD is simultaneously making a public case that declining enrollment and an $8–17M shortfall may force school closures. Prop NN is the statewide K-12 funding measure on the same ballot. The two are being argued in the same season by the same senator.

The complaint's status is unchanged: filed Aug 5, Secretary of State investigating, no penalty, hearing date, or Independence Institute response found.

Sources:
- Colorado Sen. Cathy Kipp submits first complaint under state's deepfake disclosure law — Colorado Newsline
- Prop NN: Colorado voters to decide on TABOR cap change for education funding — KKTV (Jul 30, 2026)
- Colorado voters will be asked to give up billions in TABOR refunds to boost K-12 — Colorado Sun (May 12, 2026)
- Colorado lawmakers ask voters to consider giving up TABOR refunds to fund schools — CPR

2026-09-04

The deepfake complaint has a deadline: September 18, 2026. This run finally pinned down the procedural clock that earlier entries left open. The Secretary of State's office decided to investigate on August 19 — Kipp's is the first complaint "filed within the statutory timeframe required for consideration" — and the office's deadline to act is Sept 18.
New detail on the video itself. It is not undisclosed outright. It carried a small, three-second disclaimer reading "AI generated content because who gets a human cashier these days?" Kipp's complaint is that this does not meet the 2024 statute, which requires text sized comparably to other text in the content, stating the media "has been edited and depicts speech or conduct that falsely appears to be authentic," plus identification of the AI tool in the metadata. The joke disclaimer does neither.
Kipp filed exactly 90 days before the November election, the statutory enforcement window. As of Aug 24 the video was still live on the Independence Institute's social accounts.
The Independence Institute did not respond to press requests for comment and has said nothing publicly since.
Note the collision: Sept 18 is also the noon deadline for TABOR pro/con statements on Larimer's Ballot Issue 1A and the day UOCAVA ballots go out. The Prop NN campaign Kipp is defending is on the same ballot.

Sources:
- Colorado Senator Cathy Kipp submits first complaint under state's deepfake disclosure law — Kiowa County Press
- Colorado state lawmaker files complaint over a deepfake video with secretary of state's office — CBS Colorado
- Colorado investigates potential deepfake law violation in election video — Sentinel Colorado