Statewide

Amendment 82Constitutional Right to Purchase and Sell Natural Gas

Official ballot title

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution creating new law granting the right for consumers to purchase natural gas for cooking or heating in homes or businesses and for distributors and utilities to sell natural gas to consumers?

Verbatim from: Amendments and Propositions on the 2026 Ballot (Colorado Secretary of State)

Summary

Adds a state constitutional right for consumers to buy natural gas for homes and businesses and for distributors and utilities to sell it.

Plain-language summary written for this guide from the sources below.

What a YES vote does

A “yes” vote on Amendment 82 establishes a state constitutional right to purchase and sell natural gas for use in homes and businesses.

What a NO vote does

A “no” vote on Amendment 82 maintains current law and regulations related to the purchase and sale of natural gas.

Official text from the Blue Book (“What Your Vote Means”).

How it got on the ballot

Citizen initiative petition #177. The Secretary of State found the petition sufficient on Aug 6, 2026. [Colorado Secretary of State: 2025–2026 initiative filings and petition status]
Signatures: 189,508 submitted; 146,165 valid. [Colorado Secretary of State: 2025–2026 initiative filings and petition status]
Requirement: 124,238 valid signatures. Initiatives that amend the Colorado Constitution must also include signatures from at least 2% of registered voters in each state Senate district. [Colorado Secretary of State: 2025–2026 initiative filings and petition status]
Certified to the ballot by the Secretary of State Sept 4, 2026. [SOS ballot certification news release, Sept 4, 2026]

Placed on the ballot by: Citizen initiative (Initiative #177)
Vote needed to pass: 55 percent of votes castBlue Book: “Passes with 55 percent of the vote.” SOS: “Requires 55% approval because it adds language to the state constitution.”

Official fiscal information

May minimally increase state agency expenditures (primarily Department of Local Affairs) and workload/legal services for agencies that regulate natural gas utilities or emissions.
Local governments with building codes that regulate, prohibit, or restrict natural gas may have increased legal services and costs to conform codes and modify permitting, inspection, and compliance.

From the official source’s fiscal section. Figures marked “(Estimated)” are estimates or projections in the source.